The landscape changes quickly in professional sports, especially in the NHL’s competitive Eastern Conference.
The Canadiens were in a playoff position slightly more than two weeks ago and hockey fans in Montreal were understandably giddy as all things appeared possible. But, now, it’s as though the sky’s falling in on this team following its recent five-game losing skid.
“It’s very important to regulate and not be so reactionary,” veteran defenceman Mike Matheson, one of the most astute players inside Montreal’s dressing room, said Friday following an optional practice at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard. “Whether it’s the stretch that we had where everyone was planning the (Stanley Cup) parade, we still had to regulate and keep working. We still had a lot to do to keep getting better.
“On the flip side, when everyone’s tearing us to shreds, it’s important to not get caught up in that, either.”
The Canadiens (25-24-5) remain above .500 heading into their traditional Super Bowl weekend matinee games at the Bell Centre, beginning with Saturday’s contest against the New Jersey Devils (1 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN Radio-690, 98.5 FM), followed by Sunday’s clash against Tampa Bay.
Samuel Montembeault will be the starting goalie on Saturday, according to head coach Martin St. Louis, with rookie Jakub Dobes getting the call Sunday.
Those will be Montreal’s final two games before the NHL’s two-week break for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, held in Montreal and Boston, which involves Canada, the U.S., Sweden and Finland. Montembeault is one of three goalies on Canada’s roster, with Patrik Laine and Joel Armia representing Finland.
Heading into NHL play Friday night, the Canadiens trailed Detroit by six points for the final wild-card berth. But that’s only one part of the equation. There are also four other teams — Columbus, Boston, the New York Islanders and New York Rangers — standing in Montreal’s way. It remains to be determined whether that’s too big an obstacle to overcome, although 28 games are left to be played.
“It’s very competitive for sure,” Matheson admitted. “It’s impressive that so many teams are playing well. I think it’s exciting. It’s good for the league. You don’t want to be the team that just gets in because nobody else wanted to. We knew it wouldn’t be easy coming into the season. That doesn’t mean it scared us and changed what our goal is.
“Two weeks ago, were we allowed to say we can lose this one? It can’t be more critical today than it was two weeks ago. That hasn’t changed. Every game is just as important as the last.”
The Canadiens have fared better this season against the Lightning than against the Devils, having twice defeated Tampa Bay, yet losing two against New Jersey, albeit one in overtime.
While St. Louis refused to address the Canadiens’ recent losing streak, he has coached this team long enough to understand the oscillating emotions that captivate fans.
“I get it. We had a great run. But it’s a hard league,” he said. “It’s very competitive, especially in the Eastern Conference. We’re gonna fight. The focus right now is get back to the recipe that works.
“What drives urgency is the clock. If you have a paper due Tuesday, Monday is crucial. We have 28 games left. The closer you get to the deadline, it (increases the) urgency. During a long season, you have to create short-term goals. You have to stay on task and not think you have 82 games. The most important thing for us now is not to worry about the deadline. It’s getting our game back, consistently. The recipe that works. It has fallen. We understand there’s a deadline and there has to be urgency.”
When the Canadiens are playing their best, according to St. Louis, they’re swarming the opposition, connected in both the offensive and defensive zones and attack in waves. “We’ve gotten away from that a little bit,” he said.
Considering the Canadiens were away in California for almost a week and spent much of Thursday flying cross-country, there was a surprisingly high turnout Friday for an optional practice — the players perhaps sensing the urgency of the team’s scenario.
Laine, who has gone eight games without scoring, and Juraj Slafkovsky, with one goal in seven games, were among those who participated. Captain Nick Suzuki wasn’t on the ice.