Game 3: Canadiens 0, Kings 3

That's more like it.  Our first convincing loss of the season, right in the kisser.  We were kinda in it pretty much the whole way, hit a few posts, peppered their fringe-AHL goalie with shots and Corsis, but all in all it wasn't even a moral victory.  We lost this one fair and square.  It's a relief.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not a hater, one who wants the team to lose so I can rejoice in how horrible my team is, so I can screech about how right I was when I ridiculed every single coaching or scouting or managing or medical decision the Canadiens have made for seasons on end.  I don't want humiliating losses so I can tweet 18 times a day that Marc Bergevin should be fired.

But I kind of had my mind made up, when I gazed upon our tepid roster this training camp, that this would be another season of futility, that we'd land out of the playoffs, that we'd barter away pieces of now for bundles of futures as the trade deadline approached, and that we'd be in the draft lottery again this spring, expectant, fingers crossed, that the bouncing balls of justice would fall our way and we'd stockpile another franchise player in June.

Now, I'm as adaptable, nay, pliable as the next guy.  In my years, I've learned to embrace and thrive on change, just as long as it doesn't interfere in any way with my routine.  And I could have gotten on board the bandwagon, with the small quick team with new improved chemistry, that's all about work ethic and forechecking and pressuring the other guys into mistakes.  "Wave after wave of Smurfs!", we cried, after a huge honking two-game sample size.  Out with the Gomez-Gionta-Desharnais régime, in with the Byron-Gally-Tatar epoch.  Le Roi est mort, vive le Roi!  (Never mind that King-Martinsen-Ott interregnum.)

Except, um, games like tonight's, the carborundum in the bandwagon's transaxle.  Who let the air out of the balloon?  Pierre Houde and Marc Denis of RDS, calling the game, repeatedly mentioned that one tactic other teams might use to slow down the sprightly Canadiens would be to finish checks, impose themselves physically, to intimidate and push them around.  And they did that a bit, but the play-callers also pointed out how players like Drew Doughty or Jeff Carter can dominate a game.  They pointed out how there are two teams on the ice, and tonight wasn't just a case of the Canadiens being unlucky, unable to convert on the powerplay.  The Kings were playing superbly and countering their efforts.  They defended effectively.

Carey Price made some key saves, but not an early one.  On a line rush, Adrian Kempe bore down on Carey with Tyler Toffoli, but the passing lane effectively closed by Artturi Lehkonen and Mike Reilly.  So he fired a wrist shot that beat Carey short-side, on his blocker side.

What we get coached in Pee Wee is that as a defenceman, when you defend that rush, your objective is to prevent the pass, and let the goalie handle the shooter.  Mike Reilly did that.  Carey should have had that one.

Mike Reilly continues to solidify his position in the blueline pecking order.  I can't see how he doesn't get at least a trial period next to Shea Weber when he's back.  Tonight, he managed the feat of a shorthanded breakaway by a defenceman.  He didn't convert it, but you have to like where his mind's at, the panache.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi didn't embarrass himself, but his impact on the game was negligible.  That's another thing going according to plan.  We need to send that boy back to Finland to mature further, he'll not benefit from a full season of barely hanging on.  Let's let him go play first-line minutes back home in the Liga, and at the World Juniors.  Come back next season and duke it out with Ryan Poehling for the franchise centre title, and for our hearts.  But for now, leave a slot in the lineup for Nikita Scherbak and Jacob de la Rose to sink or swim.

Phillip Danault had a shocking night in the faceoff circle, finishing with a 8% winning percentage. 

The Penguins, eager to avenge their loss from last Saturday, are the next visitors this Saturday.