NHL scores 2016: Will change ever come for the Montreal Canadiens?

As long as the Canadiens stay stagnant, the losses will continue to pile up.

Feb 4, 2016, 2:00 PM UTC

Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

The Montreal Canadiens are the walking, skating personification of the "this is fine" comic.

You know, the dog sitting amidst a burning house calmly exclaiming that, despite the walls aflame around it, everything is A-OK. That's basically what the Canadiens are like right now.

Even though the Canadiens came into February with a 3-7-1 record, fresh off not naming a player of the month for January because their last 31 days were that bad, Montreal has done absolutely nothing to remedy the situation. Last month, GM Marc Bergevin threw his support behind head coach Michel Therrien, telling the media that the hole the Canadiens have dug themselves falls squarely on his shoulders as a general manager.

Therrien, says the Canadiens GM, is safe from the chopping block, no matter the situation this season, even with stats like these over the last few months:

BLOW IT UP! pic.twitter.com/FDpHWNo4S6
— Chris Shannon (@ChrisShannon16) February 4, 2016

It's clear Montreal's problems are bigger than Carey Price's absence. We, like the Canadiens themselves, were all too blinded by the magical play of Price to realize that Montreal is just not a good team.

Something needs to change. Yet, over the last two months, nothing has. Mike Condon remains the starter, the offense has disappeared and the defense has been nonexistent. Sure, there have been line changes and scratches, but it's clear nothing Therrien or Bergevin has done has had any effect on their players.

The Canadiens' latest low comes in the form of a 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, a franchise still in the process of rebuilding. Like many of their recent losses, it came at the hands of disinterested play and poor situational defense that put the game out of reach. The story has been the same for Montreal for months, but still the tape rolls on.

Something has to give soon for the Canadiens. The longer it takes for them to realize it, the longer they continue their free fall to the bottom of the league's standings.

Scores

Buffalo Sabres 4, Montreal Canadiens 2

Tampa Bay Lightning 3, Detroit Red Wings 1

Calgary Flames 4, Carolina Hurricanes 1

3 things we learned

1. The Canadiens need Alex Galchenyuk

Despite the two-year extension Montreal gave Galchenyuk just a few days prior, the 21-year-old forward's name is often brandished about when talking trades. More specifically, ones that will bring young Jonathan Drouin from the Lightning to Montreal. Dealing Galchenyuk, however, would be a mistake, especially considering the Canadiens need as much offense as they can muster. Even more so when Galchenyuk can give them goals like this in a time where Montreal has very little to look forward to.

Part dangle, part power move, all awesome. @AGally94 puts the @CanadiensMTL up one on the @BuffaloSabres. #BUFvsMTL https://t.co/QALf2gfHsh
— NHL (@NHL) February 4, 2016

2. Lightning power play lights up Red Wings

Tampa Bay has their swagger back. After starting the season middling in the Atlantic Division, the reigning Eastern Conference champions have found their scoring touch, starting with their power play, which scored on two of their three attempts against Detroit on Wednesday. Hard to contain the talent the Lightning have in a man-down situation, and Tampa Bay clearly had the advantage when taking down the Red Wings 3-1.

3. Second period surge does in Hurricanes

Two quick strikes for the Flames were all Calgary needed to get space from the Hurricanes. A pair of goals in 38 seconds was the difference for the Flames, who took advantage of two bad defensive misplays from the visiting Hurricanes. A big reason for Calgary's big night? Sean Monahan and the first four-point evening of his career.