Kicking Ass At Practice
For those of us who wanted emotion from Canadiens’ Coach Jacques Martin this season, we got our money’s worth yesterday. In front of a crowd packed with youngsters, Martin did his best Bruce Boudreau impression, and put his players through a rigorous practice. For the better part of two hours, the Habs worked on one-on-one battles, both along the boards and in front of the net and performed some two-on-zero drills with two back-checkers in pursuit. The beginning and end of practice was filled with suicide drills, made famous by 1980 US Olympic Coach Herb Brooks. While Martin had no intention of keeping his wards on the ice until nearing exhaustion, his message was as clear as day.
The Canadiens need to get on their horse. With only six games to play, two of which are coming back to back this week against the Atlanta Thrashers and Carolina Hurricanes respectively, “Les Glorieux” desperately are in need of some points to solidify their participation in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. What was once a certainty to most is now a worry, as the Hurricanes are five points back of eighth in the Eastern Conference, and seven back of the Habs and Rangers with seven games to play. While it seems a long shot, the possibility remains, and the Canadiens must be weary of it.
Spoiler Alert !!!!
Notorious in the past for putting a monkey wrench in the playoff aspirations of the opponents are the Atlanta Thrashers. The Thrashers are a solid team that, given a little bit more time to mature, while be poised for a playoff birth in the not-to-distant future. With players like Dustin Byfuglien, Nik Antropov and Radek Dvorak, they can cause real problems for the Habs on Tuesday night. Craig Ramsey, in his first full year behind the Atlanta bench, has done good work developing his young players, and will have them ready to battle the Canadiens.
Storm Warning!!!
With the Cardiac Canes pushing for a spot in the postseason, they are always a dangerous opponent at this time of year. Regardless of whether they make it or not, the Carolina Hurricanes are at their best when they play “desperate” hockey. With Cam Ward in goal, the Canadiens need to get out of their current scoring funk on Tuesday night, to instill some kind of doubt in Paul Maurice’s squad. Suffice it to say, Tuesday night battle with the Thrashers will probably the most defining moment in the Canadiens’ season.
From the Locker Room
“Cliches R Us” as some of the Canadiens describe what practice was like on Sunday morning.
P.K. Subban
Brent Sopel (Man, he could have been cast as Gollum in the Lord of the Kings Trilogy!)
Michael Cammalleri (For those you with hearing issues, he says, “Felt good,” not “F@#k It!”)
My Web Picks
Check out the wonderful piece by my friend, Rick Stephens at All Habs, where he rips a new one into Jacques Martin. And checkout the comments by Kyle Roussel at the bottom. Two well versed and well respected Habs’ bloggers at their best.
Get the Atlanta perspective on Tuesday’s tilt from Thrasher Backer. If you’re looking ahead to Wednesday (and I hope the Canadiens’ aren’t) check out Cardiac Cane.
Check out the latest about the stretch drive to the playoffs at Too Many Men On The Site.