Tremors, is this instance, does not refer to Graboids, those giant carnivorous underground worms who terrorize small-town America, of early-90’s horror-flick fame.
But the buzz about Jaroslav Halak’s unsteady grip is equally silly to the franchise of campy B-movies with flesh-eating, over-sized grubs.
Alex Ovechkin said during the game on Saturday night, he noticed that Halak’s hand was shaking while drinking water after Washington’s first goal by Eric Fehr. Ovechkin said it was clear the Canadiens’ goaltender was nervous.
The comments sent Habs’ fans into a tizzy.
Where’s the calming voice of Alex P. Keaton’s Dad when you need him? It’s handy that Michael Gross also has experience with those nasty, tunneling earthworms with fangs.
I suggest that we chalk this one up to gamesmanship. The Russian superstar is learning how to be a captain of an NHL team. By focusing attention on Halak’s jitters, Ovechkin deflected attention away from the Capitals dicey goaltending situation.
Well done Alex.
But Habs’ fans should remember that it was Ovechkin, himself, who admittedly had a case of the nerves in game one of the series. When Capitals’ coach Bruce Boudreau was asked how to calm his captain, he replied, “Give him a massage, I don’t know.”
If Halak was indeed nervous in this series, should it be a surprise? He is an under-the-radar goaltender who was vaulted into the number one position after the Olympic break. Until now, Halak has benefited from the cover provided by the focus and criticism heaped on Carey Price.
We have to remember that Halak doesn’t have a wealth of big game experience.
Rather than focus on Halak’s so-called trembling to determine his mindset during the game, one only has to look at the break-down in his technique. I think it’s fair to say that he was rattled by the Capitals’ strategy to crash the crease, and that had more to do with him giving up a couple of soft goals than any nerves.
Whether Halak was suffering from stress, fatigue or a lack of size, the Canadiens have to do a better job protecting their goaltender. It won’t be easy given Jacques Martin’s puzzling decision to sit Ryan O’Byrne, but it is reality. If the coaching staff sees fit to give Marc-Andre Bergeron twenty minutes of ice-time again, he, too, will have to channel his inner Francis Bouillon and clear the crease.
That being said, would you be surprised if Halak, Ovechkin, Semyon Varlamov, and others have a small case of the nerves when the puck drops at the raucous Bell Centre tonight?
I know I will.
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