Canadiens disappointed with effort vs. Senators in NHL100 Classic

OTTAWA -- It wasn't the frigid weather that left the Montreal Canadiens feeling cold after the 2017 Scotiabank NHL100 Classic at Lansdowne Park on Saturday.

Instead it was their effort for the majority of a 3-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators that was most troubling.
"I don't know why, but when our backs are against the wall, we find a way to create some offense, get a five-man attack and sustain some pressure," captain Max Pacioretty said. "But, we always wait for our backs to be against the wall. I don't know if it is mindset or what the guys have to do to create this, but it is just far too easy to play against."
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For much of the game, the Canadiens were as cold as the game-time temperature of 12.5 degrees Fahrenheit, making this the second-coldest outdoor game in NHL history behind the 2003 Heritage Classic in Edmonton, where the Canadiens played the Edmonton Oilers.
Montreal had 16 shots through two periods and trailed 1-0, with Canadiens goaltender Carey Price making 28 saves to that point.
Ottawa's first goal was a redirection by Jean-Gabriel Pageau at 14:55 of the second. Price finished with 35 saves.
"We didn't generate chances like that and that is how they scored their first goal," Montreal forward Paul Byron said.
The Canadiens generated more in the third period, when they had 12 shots. In that period, Pacioretty hit the post and also missed when he got to a loose puck in the crease that had skittered behind Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson, only to have it hit a skate in front.
"I have to score that," the forward said.

It wasn't just Pacioretty, who had four shots and was minus-3, who struggled.
Forward Brendan Gallagher, tied with forward Phillip Danault for most points on the Canadiens with 19 (six goals, 13 assists), had three shots but only one dangerous chance. Byron, Danault and forward Alex Galchenyuk had no shots. Forward Jonathan Drouin had three but turned the puck over, leading to Bobby Ryan scoring the second goal of the game with 2:58 remaining in the third.
Scoring wasn't Montreal's only problem; it won 19 of 65 face-offs (29 percent).
"When you are chasing the puck the whole game it's hard to get it back and go down and create offense," Byron said. "They executed off of the won draws and they go down our end an attack and by the time you get the puck out, you are changing (lines) and they are right back down on you again."
The Canadiens (14-15-4, 32 points), who have lost four of their past five games, said they have to figure things out quickly. They are three points behind the Boston Bruins for third in the Atlantic Division but have played three more games. They trail the New York Islanders by seven points for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

They play their next six games on the road, beginning against Vancouver on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET; SNP, TSN2, RDS, NHL.TV).
"We need more," coach Claude Julien said. "We need to create more and we need to create more from the inside. Some nights we have that and tonight we didn't. Until we figure that out and become more consistent, that's what you are going to see.
"That's the part of our game right now we have to find. When we do those things well, we are a good hockey club."