3 least impressive Montreal Canadiens players from 4-2 loss to Detroit Red Wings feat. Mike Matheson

The Montreal Canadiens dropped a disappointing 4-2 loss against division rivals, the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena. The Habs fell into a 3-0 hole they could not climb out of despite pushing hard in the third period.

Kirby Dach and Kaiden Guhle scored for the Montreal Canadiens. Meanwhile, Jonatan Berggren, Alex DeBrincat, Andrew Copp (SHG) and Dylan Larkin (PPG) scored for the Red Wings.

Here's a closer look at the three least impressive Montreal Canadiens players from their 4-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night.

3 least impressive Montreal Canadiens players from 4-2 loss to Detroit Red Wings

#3. Jake Evans

Jake Evans had been on a hot streak last month. He had run up a six-game point streak in late December. But since the calendar turned to 2025, Evans has been cold. He’s got one goal and one assist over his last 11 games.

On Thursday night, he didn’t fare much better. Evans was held off the scoresheet, ending the night a minus-1 in nearly 17 minutes of ice time over 17 shifts. While he managed two shots on goal, they weren’t significant scoring chances.

Evans will need to rekindle his scoring touch as the Habs need depth scoring from players like him to continue their push for a playoff spot.

#2. Juraj Slafkovsy

Juraj Slafkovsky continues to struggle this season. The Montreal Canadiens third-year player has been unable to live up to the expectations that come with being a first-overall pick. Thus far, he’s notched seven goals and 26 points in 45 games. While he has a chance to beat last year’s totals, his performance from Thursday night didn’t help that aim.

Slafkovsky went quiet, failing to register on the scoreheet in nearly 17 minutes of ice time. He hit the ice for 16 shifts, getting two shots on goal, and ending the night a minus-2.

The Habs will be hoping to get more from Slafkovsky as the team looks to get more offense going throughout the top six.

#1. Mike Matheson

The Habs’ top defenseman looked awful defensively against the Red Wings. He was burned on two occasions while manning the penalty kill.

First, Matheson was burned by Alex DeBrincat. DeBrincat scored just as a Red Wings’ power play expired. Matheson looked tired and slow on the play, unable to do much to stop DeBrincat from burying the puck into a wide-open cage.

Second, Matheson looked terrible on Dylan Larkin’s power play goal in the second period. On the play, Matheson dove in an attempt to break up a pass, allowing Larkin to skate around him and pop the puck past Samuel Montembeault.

Here’s a look at the goal:

Matheson ended the night a minus-1 in over 26 minutes of ice time. He registered a single blocked shot while getting two shots on goal.

The Canadiens will get a chance to regroup before taking on the New Jersey Devils at home on Saturday night.