”For me (offence) is not my job,” the hard-luck netminder says after 2-1 loss to Predators. ”I simply know that I have not gained shortly.”
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It’s starting to turn into a recurring theme for Jake Allen. And, in some ways, it’s tough to not really feel empathy for the Canadiens’ hard-luck goaltender, enjoying behind a workforce that’s offensively challenged on frequent nights.
Allen, a part of a three-goalie rotation that features Samuel Montembeault and Cayden Primeau, hasn’t gained a sport since Oct. 28 in opposition to Winnipeg.
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Sunday evening, he misplaced his seventh consecutive begin, 2-1, in opposition to the Nashville Predators on the Bell Centre. The 33-year-old veteran made 30 stops for a .938 save proportion, and there wasn’t a lot he may do on both objective that beat him — each scored by Colton Sissons.
Each groups have been enjoying video games on consecutive nights with the Predators coming off a 4-0 loss at Toronto, whereas Montreal defeated Buffalo 3-2 in a shootout.
However very like quarterbacks are judged by wins and losses so, too, are netminders. And Allen’s document now could be 3-6-2. His goals-against common is 3.58, though his save proportion stays a wholesome .901.
Over that seven-game span, the Canadiens have scored 14 objectives. Aside from 4 objectives in opposition to Detroit on Dec. 2, a sport Montreal misplaced 5-4 in extra time, just one different time has Allen’s teammates accorded him greater than two objectives with which to work. And in a kind of video games, Nov. 25 at Los Angeles, the Canadiens have been shut out.
In different phrases, there’s not a lot margin for error.
“I’ve seen all of it on this league, belief me,” stated the participating and sincere Allen, who was enjoying for the primary time since dealing with the Purple Wings. “I feel I went (via) a 10-game span earlier than the place I bought 11 objectives run-support. For me (offence) isn’t my job. I’ve all of the belief on this planet that these guys are going to place the puck within the web. That’s simply the best way it goes. It’s the character of the sport, the character of the enterprise.
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“I felt good tonight. I felt like I performed nicely. I really feel like on this stretch there was some video games which were OK. There was some good video games the place I didn’t get the consequence, and there was one other one tonight.”
Allen repeatedly has refused to complain about his lot in life this season, though it’s changing into obvious he — greater than Montembeault and Primeau — has encountered probably the most issue adjusting to the quantity of inactivity. Allen is also the eldest of the trio.
If the consecutive losses are including any stress, Allen has masked that side nicely.
“I’ve by no means checked out numbers all 12 months,” he stated. “I simply know that I haven’t gained shortly. I have a look at numbers on the finish of the 12 months. I attempt to actually keep oblivious to all that. It’s all really feel. I understand how I’m enjoying. That’s the essential of it. That’s the best way I strategy it.”
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis acknowledged Allen isn’t getting a lot offensive help at occasions.
“We didn’t give him any run-support tonight, however I believed he performed a robust sport,” St. Louis stated. “I’m completely satisfied for him.”
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Jake Evans, who scored the Canadiens’ first objective this season at Toronto on Oct. 11, was the one Montreal participant to beat the Predators’ Juuse Saros. Evans’ objective, on a backhand low to the stick facet within the ultimate minute of the second interval, got here moments after an obvious rating by Joel Armia was disallowed due to goalie interference on Brendan Gallagher.
Oddly, no penalty was assessed on the play. Referees Jake Brenk and Chris Schlenker, assessed 9 minor penalties between the groups via two intervals — together with an unsportsmanlike conduct name in opposition to Nashville — however just one infraction within the third.
“You guys watched the sport,” Gallagher stated. “I’m not going to touch upon that anymore. Write no matter you see.”
Evans’ objective supplied the Canadiens with some momentum within the ultimate interval, after they outshot the guests 14-6. Of Montreal’s 37 complete pictures, 28 came to visit the ultimate 40 minutes. Gallagher, with an unimaginable 10 pictures, was the Canadiens’ finest participant.
“Clearly, (Saros) is an efficient goaltender, however we’ve bought to search out methods to beat him,” Gallagher stated.
Montreal additionally was its personal worst enemy, going 0-for-5 on the power-play. Throughout one second-period sequence, the Canadiens had a three-on-one break with Josh Anderson feeding Sean Monahan, solely to have the puck deflect off his stick.
Following the sport, the Canadiens introduced Tanner Pearson, the most recent casualty, is predicted to overlook between 4 and 6 weeks with an higher physique harm. The sport additionally marked the return of defenceman David Savard, who missed 22 video games with a fractured left hand.
Montreal’s three-game homestand continues Wednesday evening in opposition to Pittsburgh.
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