MONTRÉAL – David Savard already has a man’s beard. Behind this beard also hides great experience at the NHL level. Thursday evening with the visit of the Los Angeles Kings, Savard will participate in an 800th game.
“It’s fun, it means that I’ve been playing in this league for a long time, but it will remain a match like any other,” Savard warned after his team’s training on Wednesday in Brossard. I will concentrate on my work. But if you had told me several years ago that I was going there, I wouldn’t necessarily have believed it. I hope to be able to help the team as long as possible. »
At the end of practice Thursday morning, Martin St-Louis gathered his players near center ice at the Bell Center. He slipped a few words, an inaudible speech from the stands, but we could understand that he was referring to his defender’s plateau.
After the little word from St-Louis, the players tapped their sticks on the ice and then congratulated Savard. Alex Newhook also gave him a big hug.
“It’s cool to see him reach 800 games, ‘Savy’ is the perfect professional,” said center Christian Dvorak. He is a very good guy. He is loved by everyone. On the ice, he always does the dirty work. He blocks shots, he plays shorthanded and his mentality is to defend his territory. He also has an offensive side that we suspect less. »
In a press conference after the morning training, St-Louis also spoke about Savard.
“It’s a big moment for him,” said the head coach. It’s not easy to play one game in the NHL, it’s even harder to have a career and it’s even harder to play 800 games.
“When you think about his journey, he was a very offensive defenseman in junior. If I’m not mistaken, he won the title of defenseman of the year in the Canadian League (2010 with the Moncton Wildcats). In the NHL, he had to create a place for himself. Savy has adjusted his game. He has offense, but he has become more defensive, a penalty kill specialist. It takes intelligence to know how to modify your game in order to have a long career. Nothing happens by chance. He takes a big place in our team. »
For this 800th meeting, Savard will skate with young Lane Hutson.
Without Struble
On the blue line, CH will once again trust the same three duos as at the start of the game against the Penguins and during the three other previous games. Mike Matheson will be with Kaiden Guhle, while Arber Xhekaj will be with Justin Barron.
Since the start of the season, however, St-Louis has often juggled its duos during the match.
