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Martin St-Louis has decided to change things up for tonight’s game as the Canadiens will be using 11 forwards and 7 defensemen. Why? St-Louis says there’s no real motivation aside from just trying something. I guess desperate times call for desperate means. This means that Justin Barron will be back in the line-up and according to the lines at practices, Jesse Ylonen should play while Mike Hoffman and Mike Pezzetta will be the healthy scratches.
Martin St-Louis s’adresse aux médias en vue du match de ce soir contre les Predators au Centre Bell.
Martin St-Louis is addressing the media in Montreal ahead of tonight’s game against the Predators.#GoHabsGohttps://t.co/l1BED7q8vl
Speaking about health, yesterday, the Canadiens announced that Brendan Gallagher would be sidelined for at least 6 more weeks because of a lower-body injury. This is quite a blow for the grizzled vet, he might only be 30 but his style of play seems to have caught up with him and he just can’t seem to stay healthy. After a very long off season in which he had all the necessary time to rest and heal, he hoped that the injury troubles were behind him, but his body just seems to be breaking down on him. I don’t like saying it, but it feels like this could end the LTIR way much like Carey Price and Shea Weber.
This was not the most worrying news the Canadiens got yesterday, however. Habs prospect Vinzenz Rohrer was playing with his Ottawa 67’s last night against the Kingston Frontenacs when he collided against an opposing player and landed very awkwardly on his head. He was out cold and suffered a seizure before being taken out on a stretcher and then to the hospital. Thankfully, he has since been released from hospital and is resting at home, understandably, he’ll be out indefinitely.
Back to tonight though, the Canadiens’ faithful haven’t had much to cheer about of late, but tonight, before the game, they’ll get to pay their respect to P.K. Subban. While Subban only played 434 games wearing the bleu, blanc, rouge, he definitely had an impact on both the team and the city.
In an era where the Canadiens weren’t exactly very entertaining, Subban was one of those who shone brightly. He would often pick up the puck and go up ice, prompting the fans to jump out of their seats in anticipation. He just had a way to get people excited and make the game exciting. Who doesn’t remember THAT hit on Marchand? Or THAT overtime goal against Boston? THAT quote about taking all the air out of the TD Garden during game 7? Can you remember anyone else who made Markov comfortable enough to smile and play with the crowd? And what about THAT kiss? P.K. was heck of a showman, but his impact wasn’t just on the ice.
After signing his big contract, Subban also pledged 10 million to the Montreal Children’s hospital and even though he was traded, he never relented on that pledge. Even though some people weren’t ready for P.K. Subban and his flashy personality, there’s absolutely no denying that he was great both for the team and the city and tonight, the fans will get to say one final: Thank you P.K. Personally, I’ll be on the press gallery tonight in the Club 1909 booth and I won’t miss a second of that pregame ceremony which is thoroughly deserved if you ask me.
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