The Habs were due to have a loss like Game 68, but the timing was terrible

On Thursday night the Montreal Canadiens were in Detroit to face the Red Wings for an important standings game. The Habs were the better team, but a couple of bad bounces were the difference. The result was a 3-1 loss.

Here’s what I’m thinking.

Detroit capitalized on some bad luck.

Montreal’s defense is definitely the side of the game where they are weak. But the goals that cost them the game last night were not on weak defending. On the first goal, Dobson had his man tied up nicely but the puck bounced off them.

On the game-winning goal, the puck got by Dobson at the opposing blue line, but Matheson was back and ready for the safe clear. But the puck was bobbling and Matheson caught a bad edge and the turnover ended up behind Dobes.

As much as there is a crew that likes to dump on Matheson, that stuff happens. It wasn’t bad defending, it was bad luck. The Habs have plenty of wins in the books this season where they didn’t deserve the win, and after last night Detroit has at least one.

Slafkovsky’s breakout is for serious.

The big man scored his 25th goal of the season last night and is on pace to blow up his career high in points as well. It’s safe to say the kid is having his breakout year and is only going to get better as he grows into his prime.

He turns 22 in 10 days.

I have a theory about the plan on D.

Certainly, separating Guhle and Hutson has improved the situation, but a Hutson-Struble pair is not a long-term solution. As much as we know the coach’s style is to shuffle the pairs through a game, Hutson needs a legitimate partner.

It’s time to recall David Reinbacher, not to be the saviour, but to see what he’s got. He’s yet to play his first NHL game. We know that HuGo wants to be deliberate with how they expose him, following the drama that accompanied his selection at the draft.

The Habs begin a five-game road trip a week from Saturday. I wonder if the plan is to recall Reinbacher and have him play his first games on the road during that trip.

The time has come and the time is now. The Habs have to know if Reino is the guy, because we already know Struble is not the guy for that role.