In hockey, they say coaching is about decisions—some win games, others lose them. For Martin St-Louis, his choices played a pivotal role in the Canadiens’ 4-2 loss to the Blackhawks last night.
St-Louis’ inexperience has raised eyebrows before, but his handling of personnel this time left many fans puzzled. Take Michael Pezzetta: the gritty forward had been a healthy scratch for 28 straight games. Most veteran coaches find ways to keep spare players sharp, rotating them into the lineup periodically. But when flu sidelined Patrik Laine, St-Louis had little choice but to deploy a rusty Pezzetta—the only available forward.
What surprised everyone was where he placed him. Pezzetta, a career fourth-liner, was thrust onto the second line, tasked with filling Laine’s role. Meanwhile, Joel Armia, who has seen top-six minutes this season, and rookie Emil Heineman, the team’s fifth-leading goal scorer, stayed anchored on the fourth line. Protecting the chemistry of the fourth line is a dubious justification for this decision—it’s rare for an NHL coach to disrupt his top six to preserve his bottom trio.
Goaltending decisions also sparked debate. Rookie Jakub Dobeš, fresh off a stellar debut shutout against the defending champion Panthers, watched from the bench for three consecutive games. His rebound control and poise were revelations compared to the inconsistency of Samuel Montembeault and Cayden Primeau. Dobeš seemed a natural choice to start against Chicago, the league’s basement dwellers, especially with Colorado looming on the schedule. Instead, Montembeault got the nod, only to deliver a middling performance.
While some fans still see the current management and coaching staff through rose-colored glasses, others are starting to question the logic behind certain decisions. Are we seeing strategic missteps, preferential treatment, or internal politics at play? Whatever the case, these choices are beginning to strain credibility.
Game Notes:
- In spite of missing Laine on his line, Kirby Dach looked rejuvenated and continues to show flashes of his top form, a promising sign for the future.
- Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher remain the driving force on the third line, delivering another solid performance.
- David Savard’s absence is felt on the Canadiens’ blue line. Moving him at the trade deadline for a late pick may not outweigh the stabilizing presence he provides to Montreal’s young defense.
- Having allowed 4 goals on 26 shots (.846 Sv%), Montembeault struggled to match his counterpart in net, a critical factor in the loss.
The Canadiens are back in action tonight against the Avalanche. Puck drops at 7:00 PM EST.
