The Montreal Canadiens believe they are playing better than the results show.
They have another chance to prove it Saturday night when they visit the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Canadiens lost their fifth game in a row and ninth in 11 games (2-7-2) on Thursday night, a 5-3 decision to the host New Jersey Devils.
“We didn’t get maybe a bounce here and there, but the engagement and the work and the intentions are right where I want them to be,” Montreal coach Martin St. Louis said. “We’re just not getting rewarded right now and that’s OK. We’re going to keep going and we’re going to try to find some answers for some players that are maybe fighting it and we’re going to keep working on the collective game, but I think that’s in a good place.”
The Canadiens recorded a 1-0 victory over the Maple Leafs in the season opener on Oct. 9. They have won three games since then.
Toronto will be without captain Auston Matthews (upper-body injury) for the third consecutive game. He was put on injured reserve on Friday and could return on Tuesday when Toronto completes a four-game homestand against the Ottawa Senators.
“We are going in the right direction, so that’s good news,” Toronto coach Craig Berube said of Matthews’ injury.
Toronto has won both games without Matthews after defeating the Detroit Red Wings 3-1 on Friday night. The Maple Leafs scored two goals on the power play and have five goals on the man advantage over the past two games after scoring four in the first 13 games of the season.
Toronto had three power-play goals Tuesday in a 4-0 win over the Boston Bruins.
Although his team was victorious, Toronto left winger Max Pacioretty noted just how much the team missed Matthews in the lineup.
“We are talking about the best player in the world here,” he said. “You want him in the lineup every night possible. There is no replacing him. There is a boost when you know he is in here doing everything he can to come back and help the team. Maybe that gives you a boost in a sense where we want to make sure we do right by him; he’s our leader. But once again, we are talking about the best player in the world. It’s hard to justify.”
John Tavares scored twice for Toronto on Friday. Mitchell Marner had a goal and an assist to extend his point streak to seven games (two goals, nine assists).
The Canadiens are becoming frustrated.
“We’re playing good enough hockey,” said Montreal right winger Brendan Gallagher, who scored a goal on Thursday. “It wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough hockey where more times than (not) if you play like that you’re going to be on the other side of it. Tonight we weren’t. Obviously, with the way things are going right now it’s frustrating, but nobody’s going to feel sorry for you. You’ve got to continue to do the work.”
“We have to look at the positives in this one, I think,” said center Jake Evans, who had an assist on Thursday. “We were just talking about it. There’s 68 games left, so if we play like that most nights I think we’re going to have a really good chance.”
