Les Canadiens discovered something in the past week. Something Hab fans have known for most of the season. Lars Eller is a centerman.
After playing the majority of the season on the wing with various linemates , Eller has been thrown into his natural position between Andrei Kostistyn and Travis Moen for the past few games and the dividends – thus far , are enormous for the hockey club. Lars , or ‘ Larry ‘ for the uninitiated , notched a goal and an assist in last evening ‘ s 4 – 0 victory over the new look Florida Panthers. It was Les Habitants third straight victory and the mini – streak could not have happened at a better time as the Habs approach the end of the season sitting in sixth position in the Eastern Conference. Eller now has five goals on the season with two of them coming in the past little while.
Carey Price upped his save percentage to . 922 while posting his seventh shut – out of the season while Jacques Martin ‘ s playoff system worked to perfection. Price made but a few difficult stops among his thirty saves and last night the Montreal team appeared much like the squad that upset Washington and then Pittsburgh in last season’s playoff run. If the Habs wish to duplicate that feat once more this year , they will need the third and fourth line guys such as Eller and Moen to contribute as their top six forwards cannot score on a consistent basis.
Discipline is Key
Chicago last season and Pittsburgh the previous year. Two teams with discipline – two units with Stanley Cups.
This is the message that Martin , with all of his flaws , attempts to instill in his charges game after game. The lack of discipline is what sent Sergei Kostistyn and Maxime Lapierre packing.Coach Martin may have patience for a lot of things ice – related yet the lack of hockey 101 will get you nowhere on Martin ‘ s teams. This appears to be the reason that Gomez has not taken to the ice for practice the past two days while partaking in the Canadiens ‘ games. Is Martin finally getting fed up with Gomez’ slackness in the defensive department or are Scott ‘ s needless penalties taking a toll on Jacques ( the two ear wonder ) Martin ? It is far better to send a message to Gomez right away than wait for a last minute playoff entrance or down 3 – 1 in a series against the Bruins or Lightning. A wake up call is needed promptly for Gomez or the team runs the risk of missing the Cup brunch at the Stanley Hotel.
The great thing about the Montreal Canadiens aside from their colorful home uniforms and their equally colorful past is they have consistently come up big in big games this year. Big games meaning matches against the upper echelon and in the games they needed to win. Take this road trip for example. Teams like Carolina , the Rangers, Buffalo and Toronto are all within bad breath’s distance from catching the Habs in the standings. If the current tour of the Sunshine belt ended in the same fashion as Gilligan and the Skipper ‘ s S. S. Minnow , Montreal would be in a very precocious situation heading into next week ‘s games against much stronger teams. The much anticipated re-match against Boston on Tuesday along with Pittsburgh and St. Louis will give the Habs more than they can chew. If they returned from the South with less points than a one armed tennis player , a reservation for a spot on Lord Stanley ‘ s dance floor would have been that much more difficult to obtain.
No More Messing Around Jacques
With less than twenty games remaining in the too long season and not a wave of trade anxiety blowin’ in the Canadiens’ dressing room , it is time that Martin stops tinkering with his lines. Sixty games is ample enough for a coach to understand his player’s skills and emotions. In the words of Mick Hucknall from the band Simply Red ;
"All the thingsThat we’ve been throughYou should understand meLike I understand you"
"Now girl I know the differenceBetween right and wrongI ain’t gonna do nothingTo break up our happy home"
Set the lines , get everyone on the same page and enjoy the fruits of Carey Price’ s labors. Price is the team’s only consistent player in a year where injuries and Scott Gomez have rocked last season’ s marriage of ten new players and fabricated a rocky ‘ honeymoon’ . Routine is important in life and in hockey. The reward ? A trip to heaven and possession of the Holy Grail.
No routine or discipline ?
"Imagine there ‘s no heaven …– John Lennon"
Notes
The Habs finish their road trip tomorrow night in Tampa….game time is 7pm.
Check with Bolts by the Bay and read what the lovely Keara has to say …
Too Many Men on the Site will entice you , wine you and dine you. Then – you’ ll go home alone …
Stay tuned lovers of all things evil … the photos of me in a Leaf Jersey will be posted in the next few days. I have to get the blood stains removed . Apparently Hab fans really , really , really do not like the Toronto Maple Leafs …
Be good …