A Winning Habit
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Canadiens Energized, Lightning Angry: Game 6 Emotions

By Lissa Albert

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Apr 26, 2015; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Montreal Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien talks during a press conference after the game six against Ottawa Senators of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

What a difference a coach makes

On the other side, Michel Therrien is holding steady in his confidence. All along, his line has been:

  • focus
  • intensity
  • in the moment but Big Picture
  • confidence
  • no panic, stay calm
  • game plan
  • energy

Therrien uses energy as a tool. He has cited the energy of fans that has manifested in the bench coming even more alive. He’s cited the energy of a goal which, obviously, inspires the team to do better.

In his press conference after Monday’s practice, he stated:

"[Tampa] feels the pressure as long as they can’t close. We feel good about it. It’s where we perform the best."

With a smile, he added,

"I see a team full of energy. I feel a team that can’t wait to play tomorrow."

This is not a man whose team is intimidated by having their backs up to the wall. In elimination games, goaltender Carey Price is 6-3. The Habs are 5-1 (dating to last year’s playoffs) in elimination games, and the loss was directly attributed to Price’s injury after being run in Game 1 against the New York Rangers. Clearly this is where they shine.

Two spectacular quotes from today’s post-skate press conference will further cement this attitude:

He also stated

"Confidence comes from the way they play."

Asked about the absence of Ryan Callahan (out due to an emergency appendectomy Monday afternoon), Therrien declined to discuss it.

"Honestly, I’m not concentrating on Callahan. As a group, we don’t concentrate on who’s going to be there or not. My focus is on our team, and on the way we’re supposed to play. That’s my only focus. That’s all."

He was decisive, firm, and – his own word applied to his attitude at the podium – focused.

Therrien is exuding confidence. So, too, are his players. I couldn’t count how many times he used the word, but it was a definite theme.

He was asked an interesting question. All season long, and up until Game 4’s victory, he’d been talking about every game, every moment as the focus. Suddenly, he has begun to discuss the Big Picture. He was asked why the shift in philosophy and how he’s been able to keep that future in focus without losing the moment. His answer was immediate:

"The philosophy doesn’t change because we’re focusing on tonight but we have to see the Big Picture."

It’s clear that he has this firmly ingrained in his thinking, his own game plan as a coach of a team with so much to give and so much to achieve. His own confidence has to be a part of the team’s, even though he credits Carey Price with the leadership that spreads to every player.

One thing is for sure, when it comes to the Habs, and the philosophy they have adopted from their coach:

Focusing on this game is their task, the Big Picture is their goal.

That confidence manifests in the fan base. Even some previously doubtful analysts are making bold predictions about tonight, and a Thursday-night Game 7.

But given the two mindsets as parlayed by the post-skate conferences this morning, it looks like the Habs will be the calm, cool, collected team dealing with angry players.

To me, that makes the Habs winners already; and their ability to play their brand of hockey in the face of an angry opponent is already a proven, winning formula.

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