Defenseman Jeff Petry was back with the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday morning at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard, but we’ll have to wait a little longer to see if he’ll be in uniform on Wednesday against the Bruins in Boston. “Everyone who wore white or red sweaters today – except [Josh] Anderson and [Tyler] Toffoli – are available. Those who join us in Boston will also be available. But, in any case, we will skate tomorrow morning and we will make the decisions afterwards, ”explained head coach Dominique Ducharme by videoconference.
Ducharme will therefore be able to count on the gradual return of his veterans over the next few days, and even weeks. The CH pilot thus indicated that Paul Byron was probably the one who comes closest to a return to the game, like Alex Belzile, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard and Jesse Ylönen.
“I liked the way our group behaved for three days [à l’entraînement] to prepare us, said Ducharme. In recent weeks, we’ve been losing one or more guys every day, whereas now it looks like we’re adding guys every day. It’s a lot more positive. We are looking forward and we are more optimistic, that’s for sure. “
In recent weeks, we’ve been losing one or more guys every day, whereas now it looks like we’re adding guys every day. It’s a lot more positive.
Ducharme also mentioned that Brendan Gallagher could join his teammates later on the trip, but star goalkeeper Carey Price will not. The latter will continue his treatments in Montreal and could eventually train in the gymnasium and on the rink, said Ducharme. For his part, Petry, who has had a fairly difficult season so far with only two assists and a minus 7 rating in 27 games, joined his teammates for the first time in 2022. He did not. not been in a game since Dec. 16 against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Beneficial “decline”
Without wanting to justify his performance, Petry believes that the Habs’ long playoff run last summer could have affected him. “Usually the Stanley Cup final ends in June, when we played until July and only had six weeks off. We had to heal our injuries and prepare for the next season in a very short time. It played, I think, on our level of preparation for the season, ”said the one whose family remained in Michigan during the break decreed by the team.
Petry made the most of the situation, however, saying it allowed him to “take a step back” and “clear his mind”. It must be said that Petry really needed it.
The American had been noted for his comments after a 2-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in mid-December – he said, among other things, “Looks like we are looking all the time where the others are. It’s as if we didn’t have a structure on the ice ”- which had been interpreted as a disavowal of Ducharme’s strategies. The sponge seems since to have been passed. “From what I saw today, it was good for him. He had an explosion in his skate and a good level of energy. This is how he will be successful: he must play on his toes, be mobile and play his games quickly. He has to take that and apply it in games, ”Ducharme said of Petry, whose name had been subject to the league’s protocol for COVID-19 since December 27.
After his duel against the Bruins, the Canadian will travel to Chicago to face the Blackhawks there on Thursday night. The trip, which will last two weeks, will total seven games and will in itself be a challenge for CH – which have only won two away victories so far this season, it should be remembered.
“We will have to take one game at a time, because we have no choice anyway. It will not be the ideal conditions for our veterans returning to the game, and it will be a challenge for sure. However, after a break it might be a good thing, because we can get together and spend some time together. We want to turn it into a positive and be successful, ”Ducharme summed up.
Meanwhile, forwards Tyler Toffoli and Josh Anderson also practiced with their teammates, but they wore contact-free jerseys. Toffoli had one hand surgery in mid-December and, in his case, it was the first time since that episode that he had skated with his teammates.
In the meantime, the Canadiens put emphasis on special teams and fine-tuned their power play during practice. Montrealers point to 32e and last in the league in this regard, with a starving efficiency rate of just 11%.
The Habs have not played since 1er January, against the Florida Panthers, due to the COVID-19 outbreak that rocked the team in recent weeks.