Former Montreal Canadian captain Max Pacioretty began the Stanley Cup qualifiers on the press gallery.
It is now difficult to imagine the Maple Leafs of Toronto without their veteran winger who mistreats the opposing defensive, transports the puck to offensive territory and scores crucial goals.
Pacioretty made his niche this spring in the second trio of the Maple Leafs, with John Tavares and William Nylander, after having observed the first two qualifying games of his team in full.
The 36-year-old striker, who started the 2024-2025 season by wearing the “fragile” player label, especially after he was torn twice the Achilles right tendon in the space of only 12 months, scored the goal that eliminated the Senators of Ottawa in six games in the first round in the East association.
Then, when the Leafs fired from the back 1-0 Wednesday evening against the Florida Panthers, Pacioretty not only scored the equalizing goal, but he put the table for the fifth Nylander net in the last three games. He also continued to get involved physically, with a summit of seven defeating against the champions in title of the Stanley Cup.
The Toronto have triumphed 4-3 and took 2-0 orders in this series at the best of seven games that will now go south of Florida, as of Friday, for numbers 3 and 4.
“Our guys felt good and they paid details,” said Pacioretty. If you respect the process, then good things usually happen. »»
Pacioretty agreed to reinvent herself
It is this respect for the process that allowed the American to be reborn in the Queen city.
L’ex-no 67 of the Habs was a star player in this league before the injuries come to torpedo his career. Pacioretty, who reached the Plateau des 30 goals six times, was limited to only 44 games between 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 due to these serious Achilles tendon injuries of the right foot.
The six -foot two -inch and 217 pounds’ hockey players amassed 23 points in 47 games last season with Washington’s capital, before accepting a professional Maple Leafs test.
Not 22e Choice of the NHL recovery in 2007 was carved out in the team, but a series of injuries – as well as choices in terms of the workforce – limited it to five goals and eight passes in 37 games this season.
-Pacioretty had to wait for 75 days before the head coach of the Leafs, Craig Berube, inserted him into his training in anticipation of the match no 3 of the series against senators.
“He is solid in check before, he recovers washers, scores goals and achieves beautiful playing pieces,” said Nylander, who has collected seven points to his last three games.
For his part, Pacioretty pointed out with six points (2-4) in six eliminatory games this spring, allowing him to find himself equally in fourth place of the markers of his team.
Since his return to the game, Pacioretty has agreed to reinvent herself to take up the challenge launched by Berube.
“All this is explained by his motivation and determination to get up after his injuries,” said Berube. He didn’t want to conclude his career like that. He does a very good job for us in several facets of the game, not just in attack.
“He played an essential role thanks to his physical presence and the way we want to play, by imposing ourselves physically,” he continued.
Max Domi stressed that opposing defenders are wary when Pacioretty jumps on the ice.
“He accepted his role as an intimidator,” said the ex-attacker of the Canadian, who is also the son of the ex-dur to cook the leafs Tie Domi. They know he’s targeting them. »»
Pacioretty, who has never ceased to minimize his contribution to the successes of his Trio Tavares and Nylander partners – “I’m just trying to pass the disc” – said he was impressed by the confidence demonstrated by the Maple Leafs this spring, they who are used to cracking under the pressure of the playoffs.
“The right teams find solutions,” he said. Whenever I won a round, we encountered obstacles, and it (Wednesday) was a good example, but your good players find a way to signal. »»
And, of course, Pacioretty also found a way of achieving it.
