|
Subban returns, and the Julien effect by Andrew Saadalla |
|
|
|
|
|
In former Montreal Canadiens player P.K. Subban’s first game back at the Bell Centre since being traded for Shea Weber last summer, the Habs honoured him for his years of service in an emotional tribute :
A visibly touched Subban let the tears run down his face as he saluted the same crowd that gave him countless standing ovations over the course of the last few years, and he took the time to blow Mrs. Elise Beliveau a few kisses before game time. He would later add an assist on the Nashville Predators’ only goal of the night as they lost by a score of 2-1 thanks to two timely goals by slumping players Brendan Gallagher and Paul Byron. The latter would score with nine seconds left to play in regulation and revived a snoozing crowd that resorted to entertaining itself by booing their once-upon-a-time darling Subban every time he touched the puck.
“It was great,” Subban told reporters in his post-game comments. “That’s the first time I’ve ever been booed at the Bell Centre. I enjoyed that.”
Perhaps Subban expected it, and a victory would have surely been the icing on the cake for the man who earlier was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross by Canada’s Governor General David Johnston for his generous $10 million pledge to the Montreal Children’s Hospital. But Subban and the Predators, who have the third-best record since the start of 2017, leave Montreal with no points earned. Nevertheless, the All-Star defenseman will cherish these past few days for the rest of his life, even if the ending was bittersweet. The standing ovations followed by jeers represented exactly the kind of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde treatment reserved for National Hockey League superstars by Bell Centre attendees.
Speaking of “superstars”, head coach Claude Julien’s tactics seem to have finally gotten through to his players. Since taking over at the helm of a rapidly sinking ship, most of his players have managed to start finding their game.
The evidence?
The five wins in seven games played under Julien have allowed the Habs to continue to sit atop of the Atlantic Division standings with 80 points, six clear of the second-place Ottawa Senators who have three games in hand. Four of those victories were successive, including last night’s win over the Predators, while the previous three went into overtime.
“From now on, all games are going to be tight,” Julien said earlier this week, a sentiment echoed and repeated by general manager Marc Bergevin during his Trade Deadline day press conference two days ago.
Understandably so, though there are still concerns about whether this edition of the Canadiens can light the red lamp regularly. Over the course of those seven games, the team has the same number of goals for and against with 14 while converting a mere four times on the power play and allowing two while down a man. They’ve been scored on once while on the man advantage, and the fact that three victories required overtime goals and another two points were earned in a shootout has kept many fans on the fence regarding the Bleu, Blanc et Rouge’s potential for playoff success.
Nevertheless, four consecutive victories and goals by unlikely heroes Gallagher and Byron should give the Habs exactly what they’ve been lacking for nearly two months, and that’s confidence. Goaltender Carey Price’s 4-2 record and .947 save percentage since Julien took over should continue in helping steer the team in the right direction.
Sorry, Carey, but the word you’re looking for is “negativity”. And for the time being, there’s no need for any of that.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»