Martin Adjusting?
It is a rare thing indeed when Jacques Martin decides to make a change.
Throughout the course of his first season behind the Montreal Canadiens bench has seen the veteran coach of over 1000 games forced into making his fair share of moves, but mostly due to injuries.
When Martin was brought on board in the summer, the ideal was that Jacques would bring a secure element of consistency to the team, something they had sorely been lacking, but also that he would find a way to connect with the younger players while getting the veteran leaders to play important roles.
While Jacques tried to accomplish most of that during the regular season, it wasn’t until the final 15 games of the season that he actually got to see what a full-healthy Habs lineup would look like.
On top of the fact that the Canadiens struggled with injuries all year long, it just so happened to be a year where developing chemistry and staying healthy would be of utmost importance.
Bob Gainey’s summer of 2009 remake of the Habs brought in a truck-load of new faces and flipped the dynamic of the Montreal dressing room on its head.
As a result of that, the realization that a lot of things would need to go right for the Habs to successful this year began to bubble to the surface.
No captain, another raging goalie debate and the worry over size have plagued the Canadiens this season and while they have found success at various times over the year, these issues have not gone away and still prove to be the main focal points of criticism.
What Gainey did manage to bring to Montreal, was a renewed sense of heart and leadership to the team. The additions of Gomez, Gionta, Cammalleri, Gill and Spacek have helped create one of the strongest cores the Habs have seen in a long time.
Those who follow the team closely have noticed a definite shift in the teams overall chemistry, This group actually seems to like each other in some respect or another and for the first time in what seems like ages, there does not appear to be major dissension in the ranks, nor do there appear to be a bunch separate cliques.
Outside of their internal growth through the season, as I mentioned, the injuries and the fact that this group was no familiar with each than an expansion team, played right into the Habs season long roller coaster.
The potential to be a group of champions is there. There is a lot of heart, experience and leadership on this team. These elements will serve them well as they develop into a contender, but will they come together in time to salvage this series with the Capitals.
Ultimately, this brings me to my point about Jacques Martin’s conservative methods.
Known for playing it too close to the vest, especially when his team has a lead, it looks like someone has forced his hand as the Canadiens coach would appear to be making some serious lineup adjustments in order to spark his team for tonight’s game.
1. Price Will Start
As most of you correctly predicted, Carey Price will once again be tabbed as the hopeful saviour of the Habs dying season.
Left to his own devices for much of the second half of the season, Carey has been forced into a period of deliberation and reflection. His career has had many peaks, but not many valleys. Considering that this current stretch for Carey as a Hab has been anything but pleasant, it’s safe to say that Price will want to make a statement as he gets the Habs net back,
Halak did his job marvellously, but as pointed out by many who know him best, he simply looks tired. His record leading into the playoffs was getting worse and worse and given the fact that he is one of the smaller goalies in the league, it was become noticeably harder for him to play up to his standards.
So now it’s back on the shoulders of the saviour Carey Price. He is certainly up to the task, but is the rest of the team.
Another enlightening thought is the realization that Jaroslav Halak may very have played his final game as a Montreal Canadien.
As much as many out there would like to deny it, the Habs will be sticking with Carey Price as their goaltender of the future this summer. They simply have too much invested in him.
Halak simply happens to be a late-round success that has developed much to his own thanks. Considering that the Habs have not put nearly as much time and effort into Jaro’s development is the reason why it will be much easier to part with him this summer.
Not to mention the much ballyhooed trade demands by CLIENT Jaroslav Halak and his agent Allen Walsh, it’s almost a sure bet that Jaro will be tending goal somewhere else next season.
2. O’Byrne’s Back…Finally
This move may have come a little too late for my liking, but at the very least, the uber-conservative Habs coach is doing what I consider to be the right thing.
Ryan O’Byrne is a big, physical defender. Much like Jeff Schultz of the Washington Capitals, OB is a big guy who can actually skate. Unlike Schultz, OB has a much better ability to throw his weight around.
Regardless of the positive aspects that Ryan brings to the Habs blue line, the two biggest benefits will center around Andrei Markov.
O’Byrne is much more alike Markov’s former defensive partner, Mike Komisarek. His presence on the blue line also means that Markov won’t have to constantly be making up for his partner’s short-comings.
In this case, those short-comings would be that of Marc-Andre Bergeron.
Although some were mistaken that I was praising Bergeron for his play following last game, what I was actually getting at was the fact that considering he is playing in a role he should never have been given, he’s doing alright.
Now, with the insertion of O’Byrne back on defense, it seems that the healthy scratch casualty will be either Tom Pyatt of Mathieu Darche. Given that Darche played but 2:22 in Game 3, I would wager that it will be him sitting tonight.
With Darche out of the lineup, that likely means that MAB will play limited time on the 4th line while keeping his useful position of power play quarterback.
Spacek Game Time Decision
The only curve ball for the Canadiens tonight will be the status of Jaroslav Spacek.
Spacho, who has been nothing short of the Habs Ultimate Warrior, is clearly suffering the effects of playing so hard and may possibly not make it into the lineup tonight.
If that is the case, expect OB and MAB back on the blue line and for the Canadiens to need a bigger than expected game from Carey Price.
Habs vs Caps Live Chat
With all of the debate leading up to tonight’s game, we in the Habs and Caps blogging community are doing our best to put together one of the strongest in-game chats available.
Join us tonight, beginning at 6:30pm for the pre-game show and through the game as we will be doing a Cover-it-Live Game 4 mega chat tonight.
Along with myself, we have an excellent spread of talent from both blogging communities.
Be sure to set yourself a reminder!
I will be back with our in-game lineup for tonight’s chat.
www.twitter.com/StevenHindle
[email protected]
[email protected]
Go Habs!!!!!
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»