Mike Matheson had a front-row seat to the Montreal Canadiens’ rout in the first period of their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday night at the Bell Centre.
The Montreal defender was on the ice for the four goals of the visitors, who quickly chased goaltender Jake Allen from the Habs net after less than 14 minutes of play. The Canadian eventually lost 5-3.
Matheson has posted differentials of -3 in his last two games and he admits to going through a difficult streak. The 29-year-old veteran, however, has the experience to bounce back quickly.
“During a season, there are always times when everything seems negative, when you go out of the locker room and everyone is going to talk about the negative things. It’s easy to focus on that,” Matheson said at noon on Wednesday, before the Canadian left for Detroit in anticipation of a duel against the Red Wings on Thursday evening.
“It’s important to remember that yes it wasn’t fun being on the ice for four goals yesterday (Tuesday), but I’m not the only reason to explain these goals,” he recalled. As hockey players, we are always the first to deflect attention when we do something good. Conversely, it is important to realize that we are not the only one responsible when it is negative. »
Matheson insisted he was healthy. He also recalled that he was still the same player, even if his confidence level may have fluctuated.
“It can get frustrating when it doesn’t work as much by forcing plays as by keeping things simple,” Matheson said. You have to remember who you are and tell yourself that if you’re not playing well, it’s because it’s not you.
I’m still the same player, but I’m not at my best.
Overall, it’s the entire Canadian (5-5-2) who is experiencing his first difficult streak of the season with four consecutive losses (0-3-1).
Head coach Martin St-Louis decided to take some of the blame. He noted Wednesday that the early season victories may have hidden some problems and that he may have been a little too patient in resolving them.
He therefore believes that the series of defeats will be useful to him in his teaching.
“It’s part of a season and I’m happy it’s happening at this time,” St-Louis said. We will continue to work to get to the other side. But we must not attack this with negative energy.
“I say all the time that the answers are everywhere. We seek them and we find them. We will continue to teach and move the team forward. »
Veteran Brendan Gallagher said the group may have lost some confidence during the losing streak.
“We have to go back to things that worked at the start of the season,” he insisted. We have to be comfortable on the ice and play with confidence. We’re going to make mistakes on the ice, but we have to be in the right place to help our teammates when they make them. We also have to keep our heads high when we concede a goal.
“We have enough experience to know that we will face adversity during the season. This is where we are. You can learn a lot about yourself in these moments. And I hope we get things back on track tomorrow. »
For their part, the Red Wings (7-5-1) are also experiencing a decline after a good start to the season. They have won only twice in seven outings (2-4-1) since a five-game winning streak.
Gallagher and Pezzetta try the neck protector
Brendan Gallagher is aware that his fate could have been different Tuesday night when he fell along the ramp midway in the first period of the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Gallagher said Wednesday morning that forward Michael Eyssimont’s skate hit him in the glove. But less than two weeks after the death of Adam Johnson, hit in the throat by a skate blade during a hockey match in England, it is easy to imagine that the scenario could have been different.
It was just a coincidence, Gallagher insisted, but the veteran Montreal Canadiens forward wore a neck guard in practice for the first time since his time with Junior Team Canada. His teammate Michael Pezzetta also wore this additional piece of protection for the first time since the junior ranks.
“I have a close friend who was at the England game,” Gallagher said. Talking to him made me think. It’s not necessarily something I’m worried about, but it’s worth a try. »
For her part, Pezzetta mentioned that her mother asked her to try it.
“She wrote to me a few times and I promised her I’d try it,” he said. What happened is tragic. I can’t imagine what his family must have felt. »
Pezzetta wore the neck guard in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OHL), but this piece of equipment was not required in the Western Hockey League (WHL) until recently. This decision was made following Johnson’s death. Wearing a neck protector is mandatory in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and in minor hockey in the province.
“In junior, we put tape to make our neck guard thinner and practically slip it under our sweater,” Pezzetta recalled. We wanted to look “cool”. Guys in the NHL looked “cooler” because they didn’t wear them. Today, I tell myself that life is more important than style.
If more players [portaient le protège-cou] in the NHL, probably it would be less frowned upon [par les jeunes]. Because it’s really not that unpleasant to wear.
Still, neither Gallagher nor Pezzetta plan to wear the neck guard in a game — yet.
They will possibly wear it in practice a few times between now and the end of the season. Pezzetta added that he might try it in a game during the summer.
“It didn’t affect my breathing. Honestly, it really wasn’t a big inconvenience, Gallagher admitted. It was better than I expected. »
Gallagher added that equipment companies are often able to accommodate players when they ask for slight adjustments to their product. Otherwise, NHL team equipment staff are usually adept at doing this.
And while he saw the WHL react quickly after the incident that cost Johnson his life, Gallagher doesn’t expect to see the NHL mandate the wearing of neck guards any time soon.
“If I had to guess, probably it would be grandfathered in like it was with the helmet and visor,” Gallagher said. But these are conversations that have only recently started. »
Gallagher also recalled that the world of hockey remained a small, tight-knit environment. He said those who experienced the tragedy in England, like his friend Josh Nicholls, will need time to recover.
“They need help,” he said. It’s not easy, and it’s hard to explain. I can’t imagine what it’s like for those who were at the arena and experienced that. Their lives have changed a little. It puts things into perspective.
“Hockey is a small community, and they will get through this together. But when you experience a tragedy like that, it changes you a little,” he concluded.