Center player Nick Suzuki has often been absent from Montreal Canadiens training in recent weeks to undergo treatment, without ever missing a game. He explained why, Monday morning, at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard.
“I don’t want to miss a game, especially at this stage of the season. I feel like I don’t need to train if I don’t feel the need. A lot of times I get treatments in the morning and then head to the gym to work on some things so I’m ready for games. It was good to be in practice this morning — for the first time in a long time — with the guys,” Suzuki said first.
Like most of his teammates, the Ontarian clings to small personal goals in order to maintain his level of play by the end of the regular season. The 22-year-old forward is only six games away from accomplishing the feat of having taken part in all of the Bleu-blanc-rouge’s games this season.
“I think that’s the goal of all players. You have to play a little lucky, but it would be very cool to be able to play all the games this season, for sure,” said Suzuki, who reached the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career. Saturday, in the 8-4 loss to the Washington Capitals.
Interim head coach Martin St-Louis acknowledged that Suzuki’s goal is very difficult to achieve. And he knows something about it.
“It’s difficult to play every game. If you want to achieve this, then you have to be prepared to not be 100% every day. Everyone deals with bruises, injuries, etc. It’s difficult to play a full season, if you always want to be 100%,” said the 46-year-old Quebecer.
“Personally, I hated having to miss a game. There is a big difference between suffering and being hurt. When you’re injured, you’re probably out of the game. When you’re hurt, you play,” he added.
Unlike Suzuki, defenseman Jeff Petry sat out the practice session. Petry stayed away from the rink to undergo treatment, the Montreal organization said.
Petry had two assists in the Habs’ 8-4 loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday night while posting a respectable 8:33 p.m.
Kale Clague replaced Petry alongside veteran Joel Edmundson.
All the other players participated in the practice, including star goaltender Carey Price — and his blue gear. St-Louis said he has focused on certain aspects of the game that have been lacking in CH for a few games.
“It’s hard to get pucks to the net if there’s no one there [devant le filet], especially in this league. We are working on it, and we talk about it a lot. It’s about acknowledging the situation and making the job. You have to do the job; it’s not just one guy who’s responsible for going to the net. He’s the guy closest to the net, and he has to recognize that it’s up to him to go. You have to do the jobbecause it’s your job“, summed up St-Louis.
Meanwhile, striker Rem Pitlick fell against the rail during a drill midway through the session and appeared shaken. However, he got up and, after regaining his senses, resumed his place in the ranks.
The Canadiens will host the Minnesota Wild and their goaltender Marc-André Fleury at the Bell Center on Tuesday night. He will then try to put an end to a series of five defeats, he who compiles a record of 2-8-1 in his last 11 confrontations.
Pezzetta, waiting
Michael Pezzetta has a phone hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety later today. The striker still skated with his teammates.
Pezzetta embarrassed himself on Saturday after headbutting Capitals forward TJ Oshie with just over four minutes left in the game.
The noh 55 of CH received a minor penalty on the sequence. He has never been suspended or fined on the Bettman circuit.
Pezzetta has scored five goals and three assists in 47 games this season with the Habs, also totaling a team-high 74 penalty minutes and posting a minus-8 differential.