MONTREAL - If there were a positive of note in this game, it would be a central point of my analysis this morning.

Anything to justify the "it's still early" sentiment would've been appreciated, because in reality, who wants to suggest--just six games into the season--that exactly what we're seeing now is exactly what we'll see for the remaining 76 games?

I don't believe that's the case, but the Canadiens aren't giving me anything to the contrary.

One of the few consistencies the Canadiens have shown since being scrapped together three summers ago is that they have character, determination and heart. They aren't the biggest, nor are they the strongest, but it's rare when they lose for lack of effort.

Last night in Pittsburgh their effort couldn't have been worse.

Coupled with the game of musical chairs Jacques Martin was playing this was one of the ugliest games the Habs have played in three seasons.

With the exception of Carey Price the players had negligible desire to impose themselves in the same manner as they did against Buffalo.

Had they searched themselves for a glimpse of that effort things may have turned out differently against a Pittsburgh team devoid of the talent Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, Tyler Kennedy and Kris Letang regularly offer.

The result was a 3-1 loss that could've easily been 6-1--at the mercy of Arron Asham, James Neal, Joe Vitale and Derek Engelland.

The only thing worse would be a second loss to the Leafs in as many games, and the Canadiens will have a chance to make that nightmare a reality come Saturday night.

Before it gets to that, what will they do about a number of problems plaguing their team in the early part of this season?


Line Shuffling Galore

Beyond the chemistry Kostitsyn, Pacioretty and Desharnais have with each other, the coach hasn't allowed anything to develop on his other lines.

If Martin's saving Cole for 5-on-5, he may want to give him regular linemates to work with.

The Canadiens have scored and allowed 11 goals at 5-on-5.

They need to do better defensively, but of those 11 goals, none of them belong to Cole, nor Scott Gomez, and only three of them belong to Mike Cammalleri, Tomas Plekanec and Brian Gionta.

If this team is going to run on Pacioretty's, Desharnais', Kostitsyn's and Eller's oil, they'll be sputtering to a gruesome overheating by January.

And if Martin knows the key to the team's success is what its primary scorers can offer, perhaps give them the stability they need to achieve their mandate.


Special Teams Nightmare

A powerplay role for Matt Darche while Erik Cole rides the pine was okay for one game, but as an emerging trend, it borders on comical-especially when you catch a glimpse of the Canadiens paltry 8 percent efficiency rate with the man advantage.

The losses of Hamrlik, Pyatt and Halpern--as stabilizing members of the penalty kill--have not been adequately addressed by the general manager.

The coach is doing his best to find solutions, but we know this:

Andreas Engqvist is not it.

Mike Cammalleri, as a regular in the role, is not one of them.

Max Pacioretty wasn't meant to fill that type of role.

Darche is underused, and generally he's a better option on the penalty kill than he is on the powerplay!

Not replacing Blair Betts, who was brought on in a failed waiver attempt, is a direct admission that you're doing nothing to fill a hole you've already admitted you have.

Scott Gomez hasn't been a prominent fixture on the penalty kill as he has been over the last two seasons. Perhaps to keep him fresher at even strength? Hasn't exactly paid dividends thus far.

Now that he's considered day-to-day, putting him back on the kill isn't an option you can immediately exercise.

And poor Plekanec, he can't do it all.

This is an issue that requires major attention, whether the administration wants to admit it or not.


Rome Wasn't Built in a Day

The Canadiens don't have much more time to spare before reversing this losing trend.

They examine their schedule in 5-game blocks, and they've noted that the first five were an abject failure.

O-for-1 on the second block. If they maintain a losing record through that, "it's still early" will no longer apply as a quieting of increasing doubt.

It is still early enough to turn this ship around, but they can't afford to waste any more time finding the proper course.