P.K. Subban lost his footing as he was checked inside the Colorado zone, and that was trouble for the Montreal Canadiens.
About nine seconds later, the puck was in the back of Montreal’s net. Jarome Iginla was left with an easy tap-in into a wide open net for his second goal of the game. With 2:03 remaining in regulation, that broke a 2-2 deadlock, giving the Avalanche an eventual 3-2 victory.
In a one-goal game, with the Habs now losing, coach Michel Therrien then benched Subban, the team’s leading point producer, for the remaining 2:03 after his turnover.
Another loss for the Habs. Three in a row.
With goalie Carey Price injured, this season has disintegrated for Montreal. And it continued Wednesday.
Following the game, the embattled Therrien was displeased with one particular moment in the game -- the mistake Subban, his star defenseman, made seconds before the Iginla winner.
“Individual mistake cost the game,” said Therrien, as per Sportsnet.
“As a coach, I thought he could’ve had a better decision at the blue line and move the puck behind and he put himself in a tough position.
“We play as a team and unfortunately at the end of the game, when we don’t play as a team, we could be in trouble. This is what happens.”
Subban also addressed his fall following the game.
“If I had to do it over again, I would probably try not (to lose an edge). I think I put myself in positions a lot where I have control on one hand and I use my body to shield (the puck),” Subban told reporters.
“He didn’t push me. He didn’t really do anything. I just crossed over and lost an edge and the puck was there for him.”
#Habs M.Therrien on Subban: "PK did not play the odds on that play at the end... We need to play as a team".
— Richard Labbé (@Richardlabbe) February 18, 2016
I know just about everyone had already given up on Habs playoff hopes, but sitting Subban down a goal strongly suggests Therrien had as well
— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) February 18, 2016