|
Pregame: Canadiens vs Capitals and Pride Night |
|
|
|
|
|
Follow me @KarineHains for all updates about the Montreal Canadiens and women's hockey
Given how much had been written about the various Pride Nights this season in the NHL as more NHLers decided to opt out for various reasons, it was no surprise that it’s what Martin St-Louis was grilled about by the media in his post practice presser. As he got up to leave the stage, the Habs coach said: “That’s it? No questions about the game or the line-up? Alright”. In the end though, it was confirmed that Rafael Harvey-Pinard would be back in the line-up and that Sean Farrell would be the one making way for him.
As for Pride Night, the organization issued a statement about the importance of the initiative and acknowledging that one of its players would sit out the warm-up for family reasons, but that it truly hoped the focus would stay on what the night means rather than on the fact that one player has elected to skip it for reasons the club understands. As for the family reasons in question, the coach made it clear that Russian Denis Gurianov fears his family, who is in Russia, could pay the price if he joined in the warm up in light of the Russian laws. St-Louis stated that he couldn’t judge his player’s decision having never spent a day in his shoes, but he added that everyone wants to protect their families.
I’ve written in the past about the players electing to skip the Pride Night warm-ups for religious reasons and how that didn’t sit right with me, but when it comes to the safety of one’s family, I can understand it. Especially a couple of days after Matvei Michkov’s father was found dead in Sotchi having passed away from unexplained circumstances. There’s plenty of speculation about this online these days, but if that is in fact the regime trying to intimidate the young man so that he stays in Russia and doesn’t come to North America to play hockey, who’s to say what could happen to the family of a Russian player who the country’s government believe is promoting homosexuality by wearing a Pride Jersey? This is not a regime you can argue with and explain its simply about saying everyone is welcome.
At the morning skate, all of the Canadiens’ coaches were using sticks taped with Pride tape and it’s clear that the organization is 100% committed to the initiative. The way they’ve handled the situation is perfect, but to be fair, they’re the last team to hold its Pride Night and they’ve had the opportunity to learn from the other teams’ mistakes, still, full mark to the communications department. With Harvey-Pinard’s return to the line-up, the lines have once again been shuffled with RHP and Armia flanking Suzuki, Drouin centering Gurianov and Gallagher, Evans with Pitlick and Hoffman and Tierney in between Pezzetta and Ylonen. Given the fact that the Canadiens have been shutout for the last two games, it makes sense for St-Louis to try and find a spark somewhere.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»