MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens are getting used to losing.
Tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets at the bottom of the league for the worst showing at home, the flu-riddled Habs team was confused and frustrated after falling to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday.
"It isn't one player or one thing that isn't good enough; it's the whole thing, it's everybody, every time and every shift," said a frank Lars Eller. "When we play like this, we can't even think about winning."
Only seven points shy of a playoff berth, the Canadiens aren't out of the Stanley Cup race yet, but the math seems increasingly unlikely.
"We are searching for answers and we still haven't found that great start that we are looking for," said coach Randy Cunneyworth after the game. "We are looking for a lot of energy to start games and throw a lot of pucks at the net.
"We went for the longest time without a shot and you can't be playing that way."
With Tomas Plekanec and Mathieu Darche sidelined by flu-like symptoms, the team's struggling was made worse by a bench riddled with players under the weather.
"We've been here so many times before: at home, a loss and we played awful," said a disappointed Eller.
"We are close, but to continue losing points and not take the advantage is disappointing and frustrating," said defenceman Chris Campoli.
With the NHL trade deadline on Monday it appears likely that the Montreal Canadiens will see some key players go. Andrei Kostitsyn and Travis Moen seem likely to be traded away.
The Canadiens' next game is on Friday against the Washington Capitals.
