Record: 20-20-8, 48 pts Conference Rank: 12th Division Rank: 3rd Top Scorer: Tomas Plekanec (11 goals, 36 assists, 47 points) Top Goalie: Jaroslav Halak (12 wins, 2.46 GAA) Midseason Grade: C
The Canadiens have been tough to read this season, and have been inconsistent both on offense and defense all season. Their new look offense is ranked 4th last in the Eastern Conference, while their defense, which saw very little change from last season, is now ranked near the top of the conference. Carey Price, the anointed starter, has been just as inconsistent, while supposed backup Halak, has been playing so well, he’s been reported to have demanded a trade to a place where he can be the number one keeper.
Up front, Tomas Plekanec is having by far the best season of his career, while Brian Gionta, one of the Habs’ big offseason pickups, has missed more than 15 games with injury. Scott Gomez has played well, as has speedster Mike Cammalleri, but the rest of the team needs to pick it up and start scoring if the Habs are gonna start winning games.
Defensively, Montreal has thrived despite the loss of star defensemen Andrei Markov to a foot injury in the first game of the season. Marc-Andre Bergeron has helped pick up the slack in his absence, as has fellow veteran Jaroslav Spacek. When Halak has been in, the Habs have been tough to beat, but Price has been hot and cold at different points throughout the season. An interesting situation to say the least, especially considering the fact that Price was supposed to be the starter.