By Joce, Senior Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine

There are many who think that last year’s success by the Montreal Canadiens and some players wearing the red, white and blue was a fluke, emphasized by a shorten season. So it was said about P.K. Subban winning the Norris Trophy, questions about Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher being able to sustain a full season, Ryan White ability to understand his role, Andrei Markov returning to form, Michel Therrien’s true capability to coach a hockey team, or questioning Carey Price’s mental strength after his end of the season collapse.

PENTICTON, BC. — There are a lot of people on this team feeling like they need to prove something, either to themselves or to the doubters in the hockey world, even within the teams’ own fanbase. Twenty four games in (about 30 per cent of the season), the Canadiens sit comfortably in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, one point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning, two points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins and just ahead of the Detroit Red Wings. The Habs, who many predicted wouldn’t make the playoffs this year, are five points ahead of the New Jersey Devils who sit ninth in the Conference, and six points in front of the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last year, the Ottawa Senators!

What makes this even more impressive is that the team has gone through a serious rash of injuries and for the first time all season, coach Therrien pretty much has a healthy line-up at his disposition, with the exception of Rene Bourque, who is out with a lower-body injury. Max Pacioretty, Daniel Brière, Brandon Prust, Travis Moen, Douglas Murray, George Parros and Alexei Emelin all missed considerable time due to injuries so far this season, and many were all at the same time, forcing Therrien to juggle his lines, composing with call-ups such as Louis Leblanc, Jarred Tinordi, Nathan Beaulieu, Patrick Holland, Mike Blunden, Gabriel Dumont and even Martin St-Pierre. And it’s with this healthy line-up that the Canadiens swept the week winning all three games against the Wild, the Capitals and the Penguins!

Just before the game against the Minnesota Wild, Max Pacioretty said some words that were taken the wrong way by some media outlets. He was basically downplaying the fact that the team leads the league in blocked shots, saying that it’s not a good thing as it means that they’re playing too much on their heels, and when you blocked shots, it means that you don’t have the puck. Some read this as criticism against coach Therrien but I read it as the team not being aggressive enough and Pacioretty showed what he meant, answering with a natural hat trick that night and scoring five goals this week!

David Desharnais has received more than his fair share of criticism by the fans so far this season but he seems to have found his game this week. The catalyst and hopefully turning point for him was his shootout winner against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Rarely have we seen such a reaction on the bench (in November) than his teammates’ genuine happiness for him after that goal. We could see and hear, on the last episode of 24CH, that everyone hoped this goal would turn his season around. He has since played much better, coinciding with young Brendan Gallagher playing the right wing with him and Pacioretty.

Fans and media tried to make a story of the utilisation of P.K. Subban a few weeks ago, some going as far as claiming that Therrien was using it to Marc Bergevin’s advantage in the contract negotiations with the team’s star defenseman. That’s ridiculous. Not only Therrien doesn’t have it against Subban, but his hardline helped build the one he qualifies as a thoroughbred as the Norris Trophy winner we saw last year. In order to get to the next level, Subban needs that kind of solid control at this stage in his career, while he’s maturing into a solid all-around defenseman, and none knows it better than himself, as he never once criticised Therrien. Would he like to play in key situations? You bet he does and that’s why he does what he’s asked to do as he knows that the coaching staff works towards making him an even better player. The dollars will follow and that will start next year.

Andrei Markov is back, and the NHL has noticed. Not only is he one of the best power play quarterbacks in the game but since being paired with Subban, the duo is logging in major minutes in all situations. He may have lost a step or two with his skating, but he makes up for it with his smart play and his incredible vision of the ice. He is, in my opinion, one of the league’s best passers, making opponents look foolish in their defensive coverage. The question remains though as to what the Canadiens should do with the UFA to be. Markov recently fired his agent, which isn’t a good sign considering the upcoming contract negotiations. He is said to wanting a multi-year deal, which could be a high risk for Marc Bergevin and his team.

At the 24-games mark, we have a surprise sitting as the team’s second best scorer. With only four points separating him from Subban for the points’ lead, young sensation Alex Galchenyuk has five goals and eleven assists, good for sixteen points, one point ahead of Tomas Plekanec. Sitting fourth is another young forward, Brendan Gallagher, who has eight goals and fourteen points. With Lars Eller and Michael Bournival not too far behind, it is fair to say that the change of guard has started in Montreal and Galchenyuk and Gallagher are ready to take on a more prominent role on their team.

One of those younger players who has impressed so far this season, not so much on the score sheet but with the way he does the little things well is Ryan White. He went from a player searching for his role, not fully understanding where he sat on this team, taking stupid penalties, to a solid defensive player, playing with an edge. Therrien is not afraid of sending him out in key situations and he kills penalties effectively. Definitely one of the most improved players so far this season, he has earned his coaches’ and teammates’ confidence and the credit goes to him and the coaching staff.

Is there any doubt that Carey Price has brought his game to the next level? Amongst goalies having played 15 games or more this season, Price sits fourth in the NHL with a 2.05 goals against average, and third with a .935 save percentage. The only unfortunate part (and perhaps most frustrating) is that he only has nine wins in 19 games, due in most part to a stretch of games where his team could not score goals. I was watching l’Antichambre on RDS where goalie coach Stéphane Waite was interviewed and he credits Price with being a great student, willing to listen and apply what’s brought forward. Waite feels like there are two major differences in Price’s game on which he has shown major improvements: his pre-game preparation and his compete level, including his body language. Price looks and plays confident and while Waite and Price have not spoken about the Olympics, you better be sure that Steve Yzerman and Team Canada have noticed his play.

There is still a lot of hockey to be played, that’s for sure, and it’s way too early to claim victory with this team. The team will go through more tough stretches, and they will also go through some good stretches. The key is to keep focussed on the goal, improving as individuals and as a team and here’s hoping that fans can enjoy the ride instead of worrying about the roller-coaster, especially when it’s going down, as there’s one thing for sure: it will go up again!

Go Habs Go!

En français: Le Canadien tente de chasser les doutes