The Montreal Canadiens limped into the bye week with a 1-5-1 record in the month of February. It was the worst stretch of an uninspiring sequence of play since the new year, and enough to get the team’s head coach fired.
During the time off, the team got a jolt with the news that Claude Julien would be taking over the team, giving hope to beleaguered players and frustrated fans alike. The break finished with a media frenzy at practice on the final off-day, with many feeling confident about the team’s future prospects.
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A 3-1 defeat in their first contest with their new bench boss brought those expectations back down to earth.