(MTL @ COL) The Daily Habit: Montreal Dominated in Colorado

The Habs got shellacked by a much better Avalanche team.

Image by the Denver Post

The Montreal Canadiens were looking to sweep their 3 game road trip. They managed to already to complete the first two-thirds of the trip, winning in Utah on Wednesday and Vegas on Friday.

However, Saturday in Denver would undoubtedly be their hardest test. The Avalanche are the best team in the league by far, with only 1 regulation loss in 24 games this year. They just had their 10-game winning streak snapped by the Minnesota Wild yesterday, but still managed to extend their point streak to 15 games.

Colorado continued their point streak, crushing the Habs 7-2.

1st Period:

Montreal actually came out of the gate flying. They were easily the better team for the first ten minutes, and controlled the pace. They got an early power play and should've scored, but Blackwood stood on his head.

On like the Avalanche's first chance, they scored. The Veleno line was slow getting back, and Nelson was left wide open in the slot. He beat Dobes to make it 1-0 them.

They scored a short while after that as well. On another rush, Nelson was again left wide open, somehow. He slid the puck by Dobes, who was knocked down by a sliding Landeskog. The Habs challenged the play for goalie interference, but the call stood as a goal. It was a 50-50 call.

Luckily they killed off the ensuing penalty, but went into the dressing rooms down 2-0.

2nd Period:

The Avalanche scored two goals early off some more terrible defensive coverage. One off of a faceoff, and one after a breakaway where Nelson was inexplicably left alone again in front of the net. Suddenly it was 4-0.

The Habs second line tried to get them back in the game. Slavkovsky spun off his check and made a gorgeous pass to Demidov at the side of the net who made it 4-1 - just another great pass by Juraj.

Montreal had chances to make it 4-2. Florian Xhejai had a mini breakaway... but his stick broke, and Demidov missed another open net.

Under a minute to, Mackinnon scored to make it 5-1 after two period.

3rd Period:

Shockingly, Colorado scored on another odd-man rush to make it 6-1.

Montreal managed to double their goal total on their next power play. Caufield fed it back to Hutson, who ripped a one timer to make it 6-2. Hutson now has 5 goals on the season, already more than his total last year.

The Avalanche scored one final goal to mercifully make it a 7-2 final.

Thoughts:

The Habs were dominated for most of this game. They deserved better early on, when they outplayed the Avalanche for the first ten minutes. After that though, they basically gave up.

They couldn't handle the Avs' speed and cycle. A lot of defensive breakdowns. The third and fourth line were especially porous today. Losses happen though.

Hab of the Day: Demidov....

Him or Slavkovsky. The second line was really the only line to show up. Not a lot to choose from though.

Next Up: Vs OTT

The Habs finally head home to face the Senators on Tuesday night. They should pose an easier challenge then the Avalanche did today.

Article by Jacksen MacLean.