"In the words of Marvin Gaye – ” What’s going on …? “"
The Montreal Canadiens are – in the absence of a total collapse , headed for the playoffs.
Hats off to Pierre Gauthier and Jaques Martin for keeping their heads together in a season that has been hampered time and again with injuries to key personnel. It seemed every time a player returned from the infirmary -another went down. Coach Martin was forced to juggle his lines and G. M . Gauthier was forced to acquire more defence than O. J. Simpson on a good day.
All this with an offense that was …well , offensive to many.
Andrei Markov , Josh Gorges and Jaroslav Spacek , three ingredients to a Carey Price Vezina trophy were all lost for the season.Add Max Pacioretty with his headline ( and vertebrae ) breaking dismissal until next year plus the absence of Mike Cammalleri – (the team’s one bonafide sniper ) for twenty games with a shoulder separation. It is amazing how this team has managed to not only stay in the playoff hunt yet remain a contender against high caliber teams.
The latest casualties include Brent Sopel along with the team’sleading scorer Tomas Plekanec and penalty kill expert Jeff Halpern. As far as the latter two go – Canadiens’ management has deemed both injures as lower body and it is suspected that Plekanec is nursing a groin injury. At this time of the year and with the Habs firmly entrenched nine points ahead of the ninth place Carolina squad – it is not the proper time to be allowing ‘ Pleks ‘ to be skating around the Bell Center.
Unsung Hero
Speaking of groins …
One player that is always overlooked in the big scheme of things is forward Mathieu Darche. The St . Laurent , Quebec native has been out with a pulled groin muscle for just under twenty games and his loss to the team is a huge loss as far as character goes according to Mathieu ‘ s minor league coach – Jeff White.
Jeff coached both Mathieu and his older brother J. P in St. Laurent although not in the same season or league. J. P was a defence man for White’s team in Junior BB while Mathieu played center and captained the coach’s Bantam BB team – Les Challengers de St. Laurent.
” Mathieu was more skilled while his brother was like a bull in a china shop.” Says coach White. ” Both players were great team players and were the type of guys who would never rock the boat. If you asked them to do anything , their answer would be yes coach , sure coach – whatever you say coach !”
The 6′ 1 ” Mathieu was the leading scorer on White’s team and averaged two points a game. All of his teammates looked up to him and coach Jeff attributes his former players’ attitudes on their upbringing.
” Their father was a doctor as was his father before . The boys were raised in a very positive environment and that seasoning shone through in their personalities and their performance on the ice.” White continues. “They both gave 100 percent during a game and it was as if each shift was their final one…!”
The coach would have had Mathieu for two years instead of one. Instead , the Habs number fifty – two took a year off to ski.
” His Dad offered him the choice to do one or another and Mathieu decided to forget hockey for one season. When he continued playing the game – I was no longer coaching at his level.It was nice to see him around again – without a broken leg ! ” Laughs White. “Mathieu had an opportunity to play a higher caliber yet chose to play a lower level so he could be on the same team as his best friend and goaltender Jean Francois Crevier. ” The two players , as far as White is aware – continue to be friends to this day.
Different Careers
J. P. Darche was also a football player and he chose to go that route. The elder Darche played five seasons at McGill University in Montreal before entering the CFL in 1999 with the Toronto Argonauts . He then ventured South of the border into the NFL paying with with the Seattle Seahawks and the Kansas City Chiefs. J. P. was a long snapper and retired from professional sports in 2009 after missing most of the 2008 season with an injury.
Mathieu also played five seasons with McGill , on the ice rather than the football field. Following the Redmen hockey team , Mathieu commenced his professional career with the Columbus Blue Jackets before joining the Nashville Predators , San Jose Sharks and Tampa Bay Lightning . He landed ‘ home ‘ in Montreal and has skated for the Canadiens’ organization since the 2009 – 10 season. There were many pit stops along the way with various teams in the AHL and Mathieu played little if at all in the NHL. Since joining the Blue Jackets in the 2001 season , Darche played in only 26 NHl games until 2007.
His first chance to play came with the Lightning during the 2007 – 08 campaign. Darche , an undrafted player , skated in 73 games that year – netting 22 points and proving to many that he belonged in the NHL.
” Mathieu always knew the game well and had a nose for the net .” Adds coach White. ” His problem when I coached him and what continued to be his problem as he progressed was his skating ability. Mathieu really had to work hard at that aspect of his game and given his recent success – it appears as if all his hard work has finally paid off. Playing for the Canadiens is a dream for him I am sure. Most players would have given up by now yet if you know Mathieu – quitting is not part of his vocabulary.”
Darche has scored nine goals and added twelve assists in fifty – one games this season and has a plus / minus rating of + 6. He has resumed skating with the Habs and with a little luck , should be back in the line – up before the playoffs. Once his conditioning is back and he returns to game shape – the Habs will be very fortunate to have their ‘ sixth man ‘ as they chase Stanley Cup glory.
Perhaps Mathieu should give his brother a call ?
J. P. is studying to be a doctor at the University of Kansas… All in the family eh ?
Notes
- The Habs have called up Dawes and Palushaj from Hamilton for tonight’s game against Darche’s former squad.
- Plekanec and Halpern are day to day.
- Sopel is skating with the club but is not ready to play due to a broken hand.
- Price should start while Auld may play against the Rangers on Friday in New York.
Check in with the lovely Keara as she lets us in on the Lightning’s secrets at Bolts by the Bay
Too Many Men on the Site will let you in on something – not sure what …check it out !
Happy St. Patrick ‘s Day ! ( no – we are not talking about Patrick Roy ).