We’ve seen enough bad efforts from the Montreal Canadiens in Florida to know when it feels different, and Saturday’s loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning felt different. Even the loss against the Florida Panthers felt different.
In December, the Canadiens lost to the Panthers and Lightning in regulation, with the loss against Tampa coming after allowing four straight goals after taking a 2-0 lead. This time, both needed a shootout and generally the effort the Canadiens have shown over the last stretch has been very positive despite the results not always being there.
A lot is said about tanking and every win taking away a chance in the draft lottery, but players and coaches are simply not wired that way. That being said, while the will to win should never be questioned, we have seen enough inconsistent efforts to know that the effort to win is not always there (whether for the Canadiens or any other team in their situation).
The Canadiens, despite not having much to play for, are consistently showing up. It’s a testament to the leadership not only of head coach Martin St-Louis but also Nick Suzuki and the player leadership. Suzuki is playing the best hockey of his career, and I think it’s notable that he was the one to make a costly mistake that led to Tyler Motte’s shorthanded game-tying goal.
Everything is a teachable moment, and Suzuki will learn from that mistake. It might even lead to a power play goal in the future. This team is still young, and this team is still learning, even (and, perhaps especially) its captain. Eventually the leaders of this team will be surrounded by better talent and when that happens you can’t simply expect to flip a switch. It doesn’t work that way. It’s why learning to put in a consistent effort now, even in game 61 of another season without playoffs, is a step towards success.
The Canadiens might not reap instant rewards in terms of points in the standings this season, but they are building towards a brighter future, one mistake at a time.
