This won't last.
The Canadiens took new League powerhouse Toronto to overtime on Wednesday, getting one point in moral victory/loss. On Hockey Night in Canada, the Canadiens followed that up with a 5-1 convincing win on an atypically listless Penguins squad. This all happened on the road, folks.
And, it won't last.
We all know the immortal quote from basketball coach Marv Harshman: Quick guys get tired; big guys don't shrink.
The Canadiens have a new ethos, one of industry and pugnaciousness and tenacity and unrelenting pressure, compared to the plodding puck support approach formerly preached by Claude Julien. They're quick off the starter's pistol, swarming over more talented and highly-appraised opponents just trying to get their legs underneath them, trying to get in sync out of training camp. Much like the Michel Therrien teams of the past few seasons, they storm out of the gate and catch some prognosticator darlings off-guard.
But it won't last. As it didn't with the Michel Therrien teams who'd reel off win streaks to start the year, but coast into the playoffs with a few sputters. When the grind starts to take hold, when the Malkins start flying, when all that forechecking starts to wear on you, when that lower back starts to tighten up on you, it's difficult to maintain the enthusiasm, the pace.
It's fun while the streak is on though, and you kind of hope that the Canadiens do like the Coyote and stay suspended in mid-air, but inevitably, they'll look down and realize they're headed for a big fall.
Notable in this enjoyable game was Paul Byron, with two goals to take the Canadiens well out in front, to stay. The defencemen again, with Mike Reilly, leading the way, looking very promising early on. Charles Hudon, who has to deliver with guys like Tomas Plekanec and Nicolas Deslauriers currently on the sidelines but eager to return to the regular lineup, had a nice wraparound goal showing effort and skill. Jeff Petry played a solid game, with no heart-stopping gaffes.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi had a nice shot on goal on a two-on-one, but couldn't convert. Kid, you have seven more games to make a solid impression. No pressure, no pressure...
Jonathan Drouin, (sigh)... Lots of flash, but nothing of consequence. He should be leading the offence. No goal, no assist, -1, that's not going to cut it kid. Sure, I'll oooo and aw along with everyone when you stickhandle like the second coming of Pierre Larouche, but right now, if Steve Yzerman hadn't called 'no backsies', I'd feel a lot more comfortable with Mikhail Sergachev, a veritable cure for what ails us on the blue line.
Carey Price needs a tonne of these quietly superb games to justify his huge new contract, good that he delivers.
Kind of weird that the Canadiens don't play again until Thursday at home against the Kings, so three games in nine days to open the year. Why do we have Stanley Cup hockey in June again?
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