Are you the “scalded cat fears cold water” type? Me, yes. The Canadian may have won 9 of his last 12 matches (and 12 of his last 17), more than half of which against top teams, I still wonder how long it will last, when will it will crack.
It must be said that the Habs have not spoiled us over the last decade. If the NHL had not expanded the entry requirements for the 2020 playoffs, we would be talking about seven exclusions from the spring tournament in nine years. In fact, the last time it made the playoffs in a normal format and splits was in 2017.
Photo MARTIN CHEVALIER
By being disappointed, there is reason to refuse to get carried away too quickly. Not to mention that the Eastern Association rankings are extremely tight. Before Sunday’s games, the Habs were almost as close to a playoff spot (two points) as they were to penultimate place in the East (three points). It wouldn’t take a long lethargy to tumble up the rankings.
Even Kent Hughes, during his mid-season review, was cautious when colleague Marc de Foy asked him if the worst was now behind him. The general manager did not want to show off too much. We can understand it. He was reminded until New Year’s Day of his goal of seeing his team fight fiercely for a place in the big spring dance.
Coach to win
Except that when it comes to the ice, we have to admit that something is happening. In the ranks of the Habs, we believe in it more than ever. It shows. Starting with the decisions made behind the bench.
Teaching will never be completely abandoned. After all, the Canadian remains a young team. But we see that Martin St-Louis now directs more to win.
From now on, players who do not meet expectations, who show indiscipline or who do not comply with instructions warm up the bench. Arber Xhekaj, Kirby Dach, Juraj Slafkovsky, Jayden Struble had a taste of it at some point. We can even add the name of Cayden Primeau, who kept company with Renaud Lavoie and Marc Denis for 10 games in a row on the auxiliary goalie stool.
On the ice too, the attitude has changed. The Tricolor displays a combativeness that we did not know about. It was obvious against the Stars. 30 hits. And not just little shoulder taps, and not because the Canadian was chasing the puck all evening. We’re talking about hits that made the Bell Center resonate. Josh Anderson, Xhekaj, Patrik Laine, Slafkovsky all sent opponents into the decor.
“Our pace allows us to be physical. We are fast, we anticipate the game well. We give ourselves a chance to finish hits, said St-Louis on Saturday evening, after the Stars’ visit. When you do that, you prevent the opponent from immediately being in the action.”
Better calculated risks
It’s good to see. It commands respect and puts the opponent on alert. But it’s not just that. The Canadian plays intelligently. This famous maturity, specific to seasoned teams (like the Stars, in fact), is starting to appear in the Montreal camp.
“We take fewer risks than before. We play in a very mature way, like a playoff team, underlined Kaiden Guhle. We were face to face with them all evening.”
Risk management. It’s a mantra that St-Louis has been cultivating for several weeks. It seems that the concept has finally been assimilated.
“If you think back to last year, we were playing a good game, and all of a sudden, bang! bang! the other team scored two or three goals, the coach analyzed. We tried things that weren’t there, and it cost us goals.”
Not just last year, one could have pointed out to him. During the first 29 games, eight times the Canadian allowed four consecutive goals to the opponent. Since the thaw against the Penguins, day 29e match, it didn’t happen.
“Today, we are more measured in our actions. It does not guarantee victory, but it increases the chances of success,” argued the Laval resident.
Successes which are more and more present. If it continues like this, the next three months should be exciting, and the water will be less and less cold.
