The downward spiral continued earlier this week when the Canadiens lost back-to-back games against non-playoff teams losing 4-2 against both the Flyers and the Sabres. This unlikely slide of epic proportion has now reached the point of no return as the team now only has 12% of making the playoffs this season according to Sports Club Stats.

Having now lost 21 of their last 26 games, this unparalleled collapse has yet to force general manager Marc Bergevin into action. Instead, Bergevin is standing pat as this giant house of cards is crumbling down… He is backing his best friend and head coach Michel Therrien despite his ineptitude to shake things up and put his team back on track.

Below you will the record of each former coach before they were fired by the Canadiens:

@BWildeCTV I've double checked and completed @dannyconcister 's stats. It looks bad for Michel Therrien… #habs pic.twitter.com/Xev73IfE5X

— Alexandre Couture (@coutalex27) February 4, 2016

As of Friday, the Canadiens are ranked 12th in the Eastern Conference standings with 52 points, only seven points ahead of the 30th ranked Columbus Blue Jackets. With four teams to leapfrog to catch up the 8th ranked New Jersey Devils (58 points) it will be nearly impossible for Montreal to get back into the playoff picture, especially with Carey Price still out with a right knee injury.

Injured Carey Price is back on the ice skating and stickhandling. MORE: https://t.co/ZMUbQkr6U1 pic.twitter.com/MWpJXLJa9k

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) February 5, 2016

While the All-Star netminder has suffered a few setbacks during his recovery from right knee injury, he doesn’t want to give up and he’s still aiming for a return on the ice this season despite the current gloomy situation in Montreal. While he still is not wearing his full goalie equipment, he seemed more comfortable on the ice today than he was earlier this week. But is this really a good idea? Why force things when you are still weeks from a return and the team will be officially eliminated from playoff contention then?

The current tandem of Mike Condon and Ben Scrivens is not getting the job done and Marc Bergevin doesn’t seem to care because he hasn’t made any transaction to improve the situation. What if Price aggravates the injury again because he’s going too hard in order to return faster? Knees are very tricky for goaltenders and if he needs surgery in the off-season, we could be looking at an extended recovery period well into next season. That’s why the organization should tell him to shut it down and embrace the tank for a top-three pick in 2016 instead.

With G Carey Price out for the season, the #Habs should:

— No Foolin' (@FredPoulin98) February 3, 2016

Since Bergevin is not aggressive enough to be a buyer this season, he should change his strategy and become a seller instead, as well as get rid of impending UFAs at the trade deadline. The team would get prospects and picks in return and this would help accelerate the rebuild. Price is the heart and soul of the Habs, and the current core of players is unable to compensate his loss and lead the team to the playoff dance.

Bergevin needs to trade veterans such as Tom Gilbert, Tomas Fleischmann and Dale Weise (all impending UFAs), as well as grinders Devante Smith-Pelly and Paul Byron who are in the last year of their contract to make room for our top prospects. He could also trade deadwood like Lars Eller, David Desharnais and Ben Scrivens if he’s able to find a taker.

Make room for prospects like Charles Hudon, Michael McCarron, Nikita Scherbak and Jacob de la Rose so they can gain experience and mature faster in order to be ready for the 2016-17 season. It’s the perfect time to get a very good player like Auston Matthews at the draft, a generational talent who could change the dynamics of this faltering franchise!

What will Marc Bergevin do to improve the unhealthy atmosphere in the dressing room? Will he fire his long-time friend Therrien despite telling he would keep his job in spite of the struggles? Will he clear the house and start a rebuild? Will he tell Price to shut down his recovery and get ready for next year?

With games against the surging Oilers and the unpredictable Hurricanes at Bell Centre this weekend, they could be Michel Therrien‘s last games as the Habs head coach as there are rumblings that management is looking for possible candidates to replace him behind the bench. Will the team name an interim coach such as Sylvain Lefebvre or name a permanent replacement like Guy Boucher or even Guy Carbonneau?

Do you still believe in this team or have you given up on the season like I did a month ago?

Follow me on Twitter to talk Habs and hockey in general at @FredPoulin98.