Canadiens vs Lightning: A Tale of Two Coaches
By Lissa Albert
May 27, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien during a press conference after the game five against New York Rangers of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Now let’s look at Michel Therrien:
"We didn’t change anything…we played the same way we did in Game 1, yesterday, stuck to the game plan and I’m really proud of my players who got rewarded for their hard work. Since the beginning of the series, we played really well 5-on-5, and we got our share of opportunities, and finally we got rewarded tonight."
Asked about Ben Bishop being pulled:
"I’m sure he’s going to come back to Montreal and have a good game, but we still have to play the same way, stick to the plan."
Asked if the player got any confidence from that:
"There’s no doubt when you see a goalie who’s been so phenomenal since day 1, to finally be able to score some goals against him, it’s good for the confidence."
Asked about motivation and momentum:
"In the playoffs, momentum changes very quickly. And for us, we wanted to win at least one game here and I thought we played well enough yesterday to win that game. Tonight we stuck to the plan and played well. We’re going back home to a place where I’m sure fans will be excited to see their team perform, and we’ll go from there. Our focus is to take one game at a time. I know those guys and they’re going to battle. They’re going to battle really hard again."
It should be noted that the mostly-serious Therrien had a huge smile as he took the podium following morning practice.
Some of the points he made:
"I like the way we played in Game 4. I like the way we played in Game 3. I like the way we started in the second game. I really liked the first game. If you break down everything, they look alike. It’s almost the same type of hockey game. Our players are really focused; I’m expecting an intense game. The main focus right now, to be honest, is to go back to Tampa Bay."
A very jubilant Therrien continued to discuss the game plan. His main points included focus, and staying calm.
Asked how proud he was of the team and their ability to stay calm when Tampa tied the game:
"This is a group of guys who refuse to die. They battle hard, and there was no sense of panic when [Tampa] scored that goal; we even got better when they did. We want to put the pressure on Tampa Bay and it’s not easy. We were there two weeks ago; a 3-game lead, and the more you play those games and you don’t get that 4th one, you feel the pressure. We’re going to do everything we can to force Game 7 in Montreal, that’s for sure. It was an exceptional game, and energized crowd. The players – they believe. It’s normal that Tampa will feel the pressure. It’s not easy to close that one game, and you always have to feel the moment, play the moment; but for the meantime for us, we have to feel the moment, play the moment, but look at the Big Picture all the time. The Guys believe in that Big Picture. When you have 20 guys up there who believe they could win, what’s going to happen? We don’t know, but we’re going to do everything we can, that’s for sure."
Asked about Carey Price and his saves, Therrien said, with a smile of pride:
"That’s why he’s the best player in the league. And we’re glad to have the best player in the league with our team. He makes the big saves at the right time of the game, and you could feel the energy on the bench, and Carey Price was outstanding tonight."
Asked how, with Tampa Bay in advance, the players seem so confident, how does Therrien explain this? He replied:
"The better your team plays, the more the players see what they’re capable of, they persevere in the same direction that got them to where they are."
In French, he said, “ils croient que les bonnes choses vont arriver.” (They believe that good things will happen)
He paid homage to the fans. Asked how it was that the building did not quiet down when Tampa tied the game, Therrien said,
"Our fans support the team. You could see the energy from the players when the fans are behind them. It gave us an extra boost. I think the Lightning only had one shot the last 10 minutes and when they tied it up, the building was loud, and we upgraded our game again."
"Two close teams, both battle hard. We’ve been ready since Game 1, with the way we play. There is pressure to close. They feel it as long as they can’t close. we feel good about it; it’s where we perform the best. We know the situation we’re in. We’re focusing on the moment, but also on the Big Picture. I see a team full of energy. I feel a team that can’t wait to play tomorrow (said with a proud smile lurking at the corners of his mouth)."
Both coaches have different styles; and both are in different situations, as far as the series is concerned. But Therrien continues to express pride in his players, and it seems Cooper is looking for excuses.
(Continued next page)