Most Disappointing Starts of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Regular Season –Part 1
Many teams had finished off the 2010-2011 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season in a very disappointing manner, by either failing to make the postseason or by being eliminated early on when they had high expectations going into the playoffs.
This time around, with a new 2011-2012 season, came new expectations for teams who wanted to turn themselves around and become a better team overall.
With the first month over, a number of teams have managed to do that, while others are either still in a slump or have nosedived to the lower ranks of their respective conferences.
Montreal Canadiens (Eastern Conference)
Earlier this year, Montreal made the playoffs, but despite having a top-notch team, they faced elimination against a rowdy Boston Bruins team, who are also their arch-rivals in the major league.
This season, they have not been any better.
In their 11 matchups throughout the month of October, Montreal did not really achieve anything basically. Their record at the end of the month is 4-5-2, even though they have a number of their top players back like Max Pacioretty along with a determined
goalie, Carey Price.
Performance wise, Montreal is a great team, but as a team they have not managed to communicate in such a way on the ice which would lead them to winning games.
Right now, instead of making it a one man show, Canadiens need to focus on more team work and playing as a group other than individually.
They might have had a bad start to the month, but they surely closed it off in a good way which slightly gives hope to a better performance as the season progresses with three straight wins, two of which were against the 2011 Stanley Cup champions, Boston.
After their first 11 matchups, Montreal stands number 11 in the Eastern Conference with 10 points, under New York Rangers by a point and ahead of New Jersey Devils by the same.
Montreal will have to distinct themselves from the entire league if they hope of getting a chance at the cup this season, which is an entirely different game now since many teams have showed a total change in their performance thus far and hope for the same.
To be continued in part 2....
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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