Canadiens search for answers as Lane Hutson hits an unexpected hurdle
The Canadiens spent the night searching for answers against the Stars, their offense stuck in neutral, and Lane Hutson kept coming up after two brutal games.
The young defenseman has clearly hit a rough patch, and his struggles dominated discussions as Montreal looked for anything resembling rhythm or stability.
Yesterday's game did not go well.
That's one of the most obvious statements in a long time... especially after Newhook's unfortunate injury.
The Habs quickly found themselves trailing.
The team never really found its stride.
And every mistake was costly.
Lane Hutson, for his part, had another rough night.
His recent statistics were highlighted by several observers, including Big Head Hockey.
In his last two games, he has a combined total of minus seven.
He has only one point, no dominant shifts, and visibly less confidence with the puck.
I have to admit that, like many others, I feel there's a certain lack of calm in his game right now.
Concerning lethargy for Lane Hutson over two straight games
For the past two games, Hutson has looked more hesitant.
His decisions are slower.
He creates less in transition and you can sense he's missing a bit of confidence.
Yesterday, he was on the ice for several goals against.
He lost important battles and his negative plus-minus says a lot about his night.
It's normal for a young defenseman to go through this.
But two tough games in a row, while the Canadiens are searching for stability, is still concerning.
"We're not seeing the Lane Hutson that we all know and love right now...
Pierre McGuire: "Identity is a big problem right now... You got a problem here"
- Sick Podcast
Pierre McGuire: "Identity is a big problem right now... You got a problem here"
- Sick Podcast
I think that for Hutson, the solution is to simplify his game a bit.
Fewer risks, more simple plays.
And above all, rediscovering his instinct - the one that made him so special before.
The talent is definitely there.
But the NHL tests all young players, and this week, Hutson got a real taste of that.
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