Kirk Muller will never hold a candle to Washington Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau when it comes to throwing around four-letter words, but he let a few fly yesterday as the Canadiens prepared for tonight's game against the Dallas Stars (9 p.m., TSN-A, RDS, CJAD Radio-800).
Muller, who is generally cast in the good-cop role, interrupted a drill to let the players know that he wasn't happy with the execution. The outburst had added impact because it was out of character for the Canadiens assistant coach.
"Especially since we've been losing lately, you have to make sure the messages get through," rookie Lars Eller said. "Sometimes you have to raise your voice a little bit and maybe that's what we need right now.
"We talked about last night's game (a 3-2 loss in Colorado Sunday) and some of the games like Toronto," added Eller. "Some of the emotion is missing out there and we have to show more emotion and show we want it more than the other team."
Eller is one of the beneficiaries of head coach Jacques Martin's latest juggling act. The Dane is pencilled in at right wing, replacing Andrei Kostitsyn on a line with Michael Cammalleri and Tomas Plekanec. Unhappy Kostitsyn drops down to the third line with Jeff Halpern and Travis Moen.
"We have to raise our intensity level," Martin said. "If you look at our last five games, we've given up more scoring chances than we did in the past and we haven't created as much. We need to have more urgency without the puck."
The Canadiens have lost four of those five games and have been outscored 18-12 in the process. While the Canadiens have the second-best defensive record in the National Hockey League, only Nashville has scored fewer goals among the 16 teams currently holding down playoff spots.
While nobody has used the words desperation or panic, there is an increased sense of urgency with the Eastern Conference standings getting tighter each day.
The Canadiens lead the Northeast Division with a two-point edge over Boston, which lost to Anaheim last night. And they're six ahead of the ninth-place Hurricanes, who are on the schedule Thursday night in Carolina.
"We have to make some changes," Eller said. "We have to get some points to keep up with the other teams in the Conference and hopefully this will help turn things around, but we'll see tomorrow.
"I'm always excited to play, especially with Cammy and Pleky. They're two skilled players. Hopefully, we'll have plenty of puck possession because they like to play that game and that's my game, too. We can benefit from each other."
Kostitsyn is one of the team scoring leaders with nine goals and 21 points, but he has gone nine games without a goal.
As reporters gathered to interview Eller, Kostitsyn leaned over and asked: "Can I listen?"
Kostitsyn had his own chance to talk later and said that he preferred to play on the same line all the time.
Plekanec said he was looking forward to playing with Eller.
"He's a strong player and he has a good hockey sense," Plekanec said.
Yeah and Weber AND Subban in, Picard OR Spacek out.
Subban and Weber will make mistakes we'll lose games but in the long term it will be very worthwhile. Picard is a plug and won't be back next year so why are we putting him in when we can develop two young players who have crazy potential. I don't care if we lose games or even miss the post if these guys get developed into their full potential.
Scratch Pyatt already, FFS. He's been good on the P.K., but guess what? Most of our bottom six, plus some of our top 6, can kill off penalties too! Scratch Picard, and alternate with Spacek every now and then. Leave Kostitsyn in the damn line-up and let him play with his line. Stop scratching him or demoting him to the fourth line so that the almighty, spectacular Moen can net a couple of hat tricks. Moen is a grinder and is a bottom 6.
And if it doesn't work for a game, DON'T PANIC! Let the lines click, damnit. As far as the defensive lines go, Hamrlik-Subban is a good fit. Subban needs that veteran help, and Hamrlik can do that. If he is as successful with Subban, as he was with Phaneuf in Calgary, then Subban is set. Same goes for Spacek-Weber. Gill-Gorges, I'm a little iffy, because Gill hasn't been nearly as good as he was last year, in the post-season and Gorges is struggling as well. Hopefully they can both snap out of it and play up to their standards.
Also, those that want Muller as head coach always make me chuckle.
why is that?
I would think that it's just a matter of time before he gets a shot at being an NHL head coach, any particular reason why you think he wouldn't cut it?
I would think that it's just a matter of time before he gets a shot at being an NHL head coach, any particular reason why you think he wouldn't cut it?
Any particular reason why Muller is good ?
Certainly nothing suggests he'd be better than Martin or any other proven coach we could hire.
I just get the feeling people are slowly trying to convince themselves that the habs are failing because they only hire coaches who can speak french and are going to get all upset when Muller doesn't get the job because you know he never will.
I would think that it's just a matter of time before he gets a shot at being an NHL head coach, any particular reason why you think he wouldn't cut it?
I guess he doesnt cut it with the hf armchair gms lol ....
Scratch Pyatt already, FFS. He's been good on the P.K., but guess what? Most of our bottom six, plus some of our top 6, can kill off penalties too! Scratch Picard, and alternate with Spacek every now and then. Leave Kostitsyn in the damn line-up and let him play with his line. Stop scratching him or demoting him to the fourth line so that the almighty, spectacular Moen can net a couple of hat tricks. Moen is a grinder and is a bottom 6.
And if it doesn't work for a game, DON'T PANIC! Let the lines click, damnit. As far as the defensive lines go, Hamrlik-Subban is a good fit. Subban needs that veteran help, and Hamrlik can do that. If he is as successful with Subban, as he was with Phaneuf in Calgary, then Subban is set. Same goes for Spacek-Weber. Gill-Gorges, I'm a little iffy, because Gill hasn't been nearly as good as he was last year, in the post-season and Gorges is struggling as well. Hopefully they can both snap out of it and play up to their standards.
Just my two cents.
Put together 3 lines that have all shown success at some point this season and have your 4th liners play on the 4th line? Madness.
