Lane Hutson Calls Out Montreal Canadiens for Slow Starts After Fourth Consecutive Loss
Montreal Canadiens’ young defenseman, Lane Hutson, expressed frustration following his team’s fourth consecutive loss, pointing to slow starts as a significant factor in their struggles.
After the Canadiens fell short in a tough matchup, Hutson made it clear that the team’s inability to come out strong in the early minutes of games is hindering their overall performance.
Despite a solid individual effort from Hutson, who has been one of the bright spots for the team this season, the Canadiens once again found themselves digging themselves into an early hole. Slow starts have been a recurring issue for the Canadiens in recent games, with the team unable to generate consistent offensive pressure or defensive stability from the opening puck drop.
“I think we just have to find a way to get going earlier in games,” Hutson said in the locker room post-game. “It’s tough to always be playing catch-up, especially against teams that are playing with confidence. We’ve been slow out of the gate for a while now, and it’s something we need to address if we want to turn things around.”
The Canadiens have shown glimpses of talent throughout the season, particularly with their younger core, but they have struggled to execute consistently. In each of their last four losses, Montreal has allowed the opposing team to establish an early lead, forcing them to chase the game for the remainder of the contest. This inability to start strong has ultimately cost them valuable points in the standings and has left them searching for answers.
Hutson, who has impressed with his maturity and composure in his first NHL season, has been one of the standout players for the Canadiens. His keen hockey IQ and poise with the puck have made him a reliable presence on the blue line.
However, even the promising rookie can’t seem to escape the team’s recurring issue of slow starts. Hutson emphasized that team-wide improvements are needed to avoid falling behind early, stressing the importance of playing with energy and focus right from the opening faceoff.
“We’re all aware of it. We need to come out with more urgency,” Hutson continued. “It starts with everyone buying into a faster, more aggressive mentality right off the bat.”
As the Canadiens look to break their losing streak, it’s clear that addressing their slow starts will be crucial to turning their season around. With the leadership of young players like Hutson, there’s hope that Montreal can eventually find a way to bring more intensity and consistency to their game from the very first puck drop. However, it’s going to take a collective effort for this team to find its rhythm and reverse its recent slide.