Chris “Knuckles” Nilan showed no mercy when discussing the Montreal Canadiens’ defensive structure during last night’s Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro, which also included former Habs forward Maxim Lapierre.
“Even in games they win, there are times in their own end when they don’t have a clue,” said Nilan right after the Canadiens were humiliated at home 8-2 by the Seattle Kraken . “They look so confused in their own end. They’re not a team that can sustain any offensive zone pressure. Coming back in the zone a couple of times tonight, guys relaxed on the backcheck. You can’t do that. You know; put your head down and get your ass back there.
“Just so many missed assignments off of faceoffs. Kirby Dach going one way, the dman comes down, Montour, and scores a goal. Just so many mistakes. I don’t know how they haven’t addressed it or corrected it. Unless they have and they just can’t get it…it’s too difficult. I don’t understand it.”
Lapierre concurred, adding that in the team’s current system, they can’t make mistakes or it ends up in the back of the net.
“If one guy isn’t doing his job, the team’s paying for it, Said Lapierre. “It’s a goal right away. There’s no safety net. We’ve been talking about it on your show. This type of system – you’re playing it when you’re the Detroit Red Wings in 2000 with great, great players that can afford to skate in a one-on-one battle. The faceoff play, for me – that’s the easiest play in hockey. Everybody’s got a job. The center is with the center most of the time, the dmen with the wingers and everyone should be in an easy system. You lose a guy right away, it’s a goal. Unacceptable. This is the NHL.”
