The usual golf course? It's not yet November and already Habs look to be out of it
A franchise that used to plan its Cup parades in October off to one its worst starts in history
In the 1970s, a decade in which the Montreal Canadiens won six Stanley Cups, then-mayor Jean Drapeau was asked about the location of that year's Stanley Cup parade.
"The usual route," came the reply.
But after a nightmare start to this season, the Canadiens might be making different plans.
The 2-7-1 Canadiens are off to the third-worst start in their history with only five points, the lowest total since they started with six points in 1999-2000.
The season is only three weeks old and they are already last in the Eastern Conference and second last overall in the 31-team NHL, only ahead of the 0-9-1 Arizona Coyotes.
"It's a long year, we know that," winger Brendan Gallagher said Friday. "We're not going to give up.
"But it does need to turn around quickly. We need to start putting together some wins. You can't look too far ahead. You can't win three games in one night. But look at the standings. We're five or six points out but with 72 games left, so it's definitely not impossible to do. We have to bear down and find a way to win."
The Canadiens will try to get back on track Saturday night when another underperforming team, the 3-6-2 New York Rangers, visit the Bell Centre. Backup Rangers goalie Ondrej Pavelec is to make a second straight start in goal.
No one has accused the Canadiens of not working hard. They have outshot opponents eight times, but have been outscored 38-17. It hasn't helped that star goalie Carey Price has struggled early with a 3.60 goals-against average and a .887 save percentage — brutal numbers for the 2015 Vezina Trophy winner.
A 4-0 loss at home to the Los Angeles Kings was typical of their season so far. Montreal had the puck most of the game, had a 40-28 shot advantage and most of the quality chances. But goals 11 seconds apart late in the first period gave the Kings the lead and Jonathan Quick shut the door the rest of the way.
By the third period, fans were booing, or mock-cheering when Price saved easy dump-ins.
"It's obviously frustration on their part from a lack of wins, but I don't think they can say we're not competing hard and battling," said Gallagher. "The work ethic's been there.
"There are little differences between winning and losing. We know what they are. It's definitely fixable."
It's been a tough beginning for centre Jonathan Drouin, the local talent who was ecstatic when he was traded to Montreal for defenceman Mikhail Sergachev in July. Drouin leads the team with two goals and five assists, but has seen mostly gloomy times so far in red, white and blue.
"I'd rather we were winning and we were seeing the good side of the fans, but that's the way the market is in Montreal," the 22-year-old said. "I'm getting used to it.
"Every day something new happens. But at the end of the day it's just passionate fans."
Much of the Canadiens troubles has been put down to bad bounces that they expect to even out over time, although they had the same trouble in last year's playoffs. They were the favourites after a 103-point regular season, but the attack disappeared in a six-game first round loss to the Rangers and it hasn't come back.
Coach Claude Julien isn't about to panic, however.
"It's a business that's results-oriented but right now we're not getting results," said Julien. "But anyone who watches the game knows we're not playing bad hockey.
"We were the better team (against the Kings). The answer is in that dressing room. We feel we're close to turning it around. We can't throw in the towel."
Julien had good news for rookie defenceman Victor Mete, who was told to find his own lodgings because he will be staying with the NHL club. Mete expects that his mother will come and live with him for at least his first year on his own in Montreal.
The coach had no update on winger Nikita Scherbak, who left the game with a leg injury.
The Canadiens confirmed that Martin Reway, one of their most gifted prospects, has asked for time off to reflect on his future. Reway, who was playing for the AHL Laval Rocket, was on a comeback after missing all of last season with an undisclosed illness that reportedly was a problem that affected his heart.