It was the perfect juxtaposition.
Here were the Boston Bruins, energized since the switch to interim coach Bruce Cassidy, slicing through the Montreal Canadiens, who can't score, can't defend, can't stop the puck, and have begun process of circling the drain once over - in danger of wasting another sensational start under Michel Therrien.
Connecting these dots didn't require mental gymnastics.
Five weeks ago, when the Canadiens emerged from the holiday break with four wins and 10 points from their first six starts, they had the look of runaway champions in the Atlantic Division. They were 10 points ahead of Boston with a couple games in their pocket, and on the heels of Columbus for the NHL's best record.
They were a bit banged up, and Carey Price was uncharacteristically shaky, but they were winning. Life was grand.
And they've been in the doldrums ever since.
Montreal's attack, which averaged over three goals a game in the first half, has sunk to the league average; its defense has become readily permeable, having conceded a seismic shot total; its goalies are stopping pucks at a subverting .895 rate, on the hook the third-most goals allowed.
The result? Montreal's taken six wins from 18 starts over the last five weeks, and has fashioned a win rate that exceeds only the Avalanche.
Ottawa now owns the division's top points percentage.
Swept by the current
We often arrive at the decision that a coach needs to be axed far too easily. In many respects, it serves as default recourse for the simple reason that players and executives are simply far less vulnerable. But while Marc Bergevin's decision-making is subject to debate, the bottom line is that he has routinely handed Therrien capable rosters.
And the directive ends up failing them.
Therrien would fall short of being considered a brilliant tactical mind, and that resolute certainty the great coaches typically maintain isn't a quality most would assign to the Canadiens bench boss.
But while Therrien's record suggest he's been nothing short of a proficient head coach over the last decade, he's failed at one of the most critical aspects of the profession. His teams have commonly been unable to resist and manage the challenges that come up over the course of the year.
Once the fire starts, it burns uncontrollably.
This lack of resolve was most evident last season when Price was injured, and the house of cards fell. It was clear Therrien was without the ability to organize push back. But Bergevin passed the buck and spared his coach, resulting in another jeopardized season inside Montreal's window of opportunity.
The team has six games remaining before the trade deadline in the second-to-last season before the best netminder on the planet can write his own ticket in free agency.
Clock's ticking.
Bergevin can't let this linger. Either he stays with Therrien, issuing the coach another vote of confidence this week with conviction that he can finally get this team to dig in, or he introduces a new voice when the players return from their beach destinations at the end of the week.
A bump similar to the response Boston has provided its new coach will assist the Habs in the postseason chase. But they can't arrive at a determination on a whim; the immediate future is only half the equation.
Montreal must commit to a resolution now, because spring is far too important for the disruption that comes with indecision.
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