Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St-Louis said it’s easy for his players to show up at the Bell Center with energy when they face the Toronto Maple Leafs on a Saturday night. His players are unequivocal: it’s also easy when the Habs play against the Boston Bruins.
The St-Louis troop will meet its other great rival on Tuesday at the Bell Centre. She will have the daunting task of stopping the Bruins, first overall in the NHL with a record of 37-5-4.
Their .848 point percentage puts them on a pace that would eclipse the NHL record of 132 points, set during the Canadiens’ legendary 1976-77 season. The Habs then compiled a 60-8-12 record.
“It would be crazy if they broke that record. Hockey has become so competitive,” said defenseman Jordan Harris, who is from the Boston area and whose father will be in town for the duel against the Bruins.
“In basketball, you have the Golden State Warriors who went 73-9 a few years ago, but it’s a sport where the impact of one or two individuals will be much bigger,” he said. he added. Hockey is more of a team sport, where the tide can turn with the snap of a finger. »
St. Louis explained the Bruins’ successes by talking about the continuity within the team over the years.
The Bruins are still led by Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy. Center David Krejci is back this season after a year-long exile in the Czech Republic.
“It makes them predictable for them, but unpredictable for the other team,” said St-Louis. They are able to hide things. It’s as if the brains of all five players are wired into the same system. And it takes time to build that. »
St-Louis noted that it was the Canadiens’ goal to build something similar.
Harris, however, recalled that each team had a slightly different identity.
“But we also have a tight-knit group,” Harris said. There are many similarities, but we don’t have their experience yet. However, I believe it is a good model for us in the long term and we hope to be as successful [qu’eux]. »
“But it would be good to inflict one or two defeats on them by the end of the season! “, he added with laughing eyes.
The Bruins have lost only once in regulation in their last 19 outings (15-1-3). They have won their last five games by a combined score of 21-5.
The Canadian will always be able to motivate himself by telling himself that he defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime on Saturday, when no one gave much of their skin.
“We’re going to have to avoid the penalty bench and when we’re penalized, we’ll have to sell those penalties,” insisted St-Louis. It was a positive element against the Maple Leafs. We will also have to take care of the work in our area. We are not perfect, but we are improving and the opponent has more difficulty against us. It allows us to spend more time in attack. »
“I hope that will put us in a position where we are in the game in the third period,” added the former star player of the Tampa Bay Lightning, among others.
St-Louis has not confirmed which of Samuel Montembeault or Cayden Primeau will get the start. Montembeault has been the Canadiens’ starting goaltender in his last seven games.
Goaltender Jake Allen is still not ready to return to the game, even though he practiced with his teammates on Monday.
Dach absent in training
Forward Kirby Dach did not participate in the Canadiens’ training on Monday, taking advantage of a day of treatment instead.
St-Louis expects him to still be in his position against the Bruins.
Dach had also skipped his turn on Friday, but was in action on Saturday.
The 22-year-old Albertan was notably hit in the leg by a shot from Florida Panthers defender Radko Gudas during the Canadian’s 6-2 loss on Thursday.
He had exchanged several slashes with rivals during the match, which had been fiercely contested.
Dach has played in each of the Canadiens’ 47 games so far this season. He’s already set a career-high 29 points, including eight goals.
Meanwhile, center Sean Monahan trained with his teammates for the second time in three days. He wore a sweater indicating that he should avoid contact.
Monahan has not played since Dec. 5 against the Vancouver Canucks due to a right foot injury.
In 25 games this season, he has six goals and 11 assists.