While he was the hero of the day in Sunday's skills competition at the Bell Center with a shot of 107.2 mph, Arber Xhekaj seemed more bothered by the Montreal Canadiens' current five-game losing streak.
“It's tiring right now because we're not winning games, even though I think we've played well enough to win several of those games,” the Habs defender said on Sunday. As soon as we get out of this lull [slump]it gets better.”
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Xhekaj echoed head coach Martin St-Louis' comments on Saturday following the afternoon's 4-3 loss to the Devils in New Jersey.
“I think we deserve better,” St-Louis said. Our collective play, commitment and work ethic are there. But it must be scary. […] You can't just earn something better. You can't just play well, be okay with it and lose. It needs more.”
“We've been in the game in four of the last five games but we're not getting it right [à gagner]“, commented veteran goalkeeper Jake Allen, who had just suffered his fifth defeat in a row.
heads up
Young Joshua Roy agreed on Sunday and spoke of the need to stay positive to get out of this difficult phase.
“We are playing good games, but I think we have to give more to get the goal or the two additional goals that are missing,” he said. You just have to keep your head up. We work hard and it will come back eventually, that’s for sure.”
The Canadian's next game: Tuesday evening at the Bell Center, hosting the Arizona Coyotes.
(In collaboration with Jonathan Bernier)