The Canadiens' Second Season starts on Tuesday - so where do they go from here?

Can their supporters dare to hope for something better from this team in the remaining 33 games? Alas, the numbers tell us the prognosis is no better than hopeful.

Nineteen wins, 30 losses in the first 49 games. Fortyseven points, including nine from losses either in overtime or The Gimmick. No. 11 in the East. Eight points behind the last playoff spot held by New Jersey, which has won seven more games and holds a game in hand.

Furthermore, Tampa Bay and the New York Islanders are only one and two points, respectively, behind the Canadiens - and both hold a game in hand. In other words, the Canadiens are far closer to last place in the East than they are to the last playoff spot.

You can dismiss all this talk from players who insist "there's a lot of character in this room . there's more than 30 games remaining, so there's a lot of hockey still to be played." Talking about it doesn't do it. What's needed are better performances from many players going forward than they delivered in the first 49 games.

There are no free passes in this league. Last season, the New York Rangers ranked No. 8 in the East with 93 points. Common sense dictates at least the same number will be needed this year - which means the Canadiens would need 46 points in their remaining games to reach that number. That's a tall order.

It's all about winning in regulation.

Getting that phony point that comes with a loss in overtime or The Gimmick won't do it.

So, what must the Canadiens do to get to the real Second Season?

You've heard this before, but it bears repeating: they must get the best from their best players in every area, and consistently. Sadly, they haven't been even close to that this season.

Carey Price has been very good on many nights, but there have been nights when, for whatever reason, he hasn't been the goaltender he was a year ago. He hasn't been getting much help from too many of his skaters, but goalies are there to stop the puck, and Price has had his problems now and then.

The defence, as a group, has been decent on some nights, but not nearly often enough. If they were, the team wouldn't be sitting where it is now.

What rating would you give P.K. Subban, who shone in his rookie year? This season, he's been little more than ordinary. On some nights, such as last Wednesday when the Canadiens stunned the No. 1 overall Detroit Red Wings with a barrage of goals en route to a 7-2 victory, Subban sat on the bench for the entire second period and played a season-low 14: 36.

His coaches have noticed. Recently, Subban was caught on camera arguing hotly with an assistant coach which, as you'd expect, Subban shrugged off as being overplayed in the media.

"I'm 22. I need coaching. These things happen," Subban told reporters.

Translation: there have been nights when Subban has played with a complete lack of discipline, making bad decisions and taking foolish penalties. It's what selfish players do.

Among the forwards, Erik Cole, Max Pacioretty and David Desharnais have excelled. Lars Eller has been very good, and so has Travis Moen. Beyond them, it's difficult to find someone who has delivered his best consistently.

Tomas Plekanec has struggled on too many nights. So has Andrei Kostitsyn. There's no point mentioning Scott Gomez, who will be looking for his first goal of the season in his 20th game when the Buffalo Sabres visit on Tuesday.

Nobody really knows what to expect from this team in terms of making the playoffs. However, if they fall short, you can be sure several of the Canadiens will be wearing another jersey at the trading deadline - or sooner.

rfisher@ montrealgazette.com