Canadiens Drop Game One to Penguins 3-1, Searching for Answers
The Montreal Canadiens lost 3-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday. It was a disappointing result for the Canadiens, who had won the first two games of their previous series against the New York Rangers.
The Canadiens were outplayed by the Penguins in all aspects of the game. They were outshot 31-20, and they were unable to generate any sustained offensive pressure. The Canadiens also struggled on the penalty kill, allowing the Penguins to score a power-play goal in the second period.
After the game, Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said that his team needs to be better in all areas.
"We need to be better at everything," St. Louis said. "We need to be better at puck management, we need to be better at winning battles, and we need to be better at executing our game plan."
Canadiens Searching for Answers
The Canadiens now have two days off before Game Two of the series on Thursday. They will need to use that time to find some answers and make some adjustments.
One of the biggest issues for the Canadiens in Game One was their inability to generate offense. The Canadiens have been struggling to score goals all season long, and that problem continued in Game One. The Canadiens need to find a way to create more scoring chances and finish their opportunities.
Another issue for the Canadiens was their penalty kill. The Penguins scored a power-play goal in the second period, and that goal gave them a 2-0 lead. The Canadiens need to be better at killing penalties if they want to win this series.
The Canadiens are now facing a must-win situation in Game Two. If they lose, they will be down 0-2 in the series and will have to win four consecutive games to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.