The base of the Canadian | ICI Radio-Canada.ca

After the group viewing on Friday, Phillip Danault, Brendan Gallagher and Tomas Tatar took the initiative to give a layer Saturday morning after the morning training and, this time privately, in order to revive their trio.

It's confirmed that it was not Charlie Brown covers, as entertaining as it could have been.

"It was more specific to us. We wanted to have more impact in the matches. We played well together in one of the first four games only. The others were ordinary, "admitted Brendan Gallagher frankly.

What exactly was it? Here, Tomas Tatar stands alone in front of his locker. Let's go ask him the question.

"It feels good to talk about some things and see that it works right off the ice. It's satisfying. We were fighting a little with the puck. It's not like we're not trying, but we're unlucky, "the Slovak dodged.

But still…

"Either we did not support each other well enough, or we did too much," began Phillip Danault. Too much is not enough sometimes. You just had to trust yourself a bit. We are all able to protect the puck. If you are able to attract two guys on you and send the puck back, it opens the door on some games. As it happened on my goal. "

Ah. In other words, closely support his companion when he tries to recover the puck, do it in his place if he fails, and move a little when he controls it, just to open the lines. Trust him eventually.

The recipe did indeed work well in the win against the Saint Louis Blues on Saturday night, especially during the tying goal of Quebec at the end of the second period.

Gallagher was surrounded by 206 kg (455 lb) of muscles personified by Vladimir Tarasenko and Colton Parayko, but nevertheless managed to control the puck enough to move it to the back of the net where Tatar had cleared.

"I'd be lying if I said I knew exactly where the puck was. It was a good leap, "said the small striker.

Okay. But the three accomplices assured that this goal directly testified to the benefits acquired during the overtime in front of the video.

In the end, the Habs first triumph controlled the puck for nearly two-thirds of their time on the ice, while they faced the majority of the unit led by Ryan O'Reilly, winner of the Conn-Smythe Trophy in recent years. playoffs.

They scored six points, scored three goals, and none against the top trio of the Stanley Cup champions. And the Canadian won 6-3. The correlation is direct.

Stabilizing element

"The team is counting on us," said Gallagher. Precisely.

Of course, Carey Price is likely to remain the keystone of the CH for a playoff run.

Immediately after the list is the performance of this underrated trio, rarely praised by experts or mentioned as one of the best in the league, although this is exactly what it became during the 2018- 2019.

In 647 minutes of five-to-five games last year, they scored 40 goals and conceded 20. A monstrous ratio.

That of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak had yielded 24 times in 462 minutes. That of Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen? 46 goals scored, 29 granted in 842 minutes.

Brayden Point, Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov? Once again, 24 goals conceded in 553 minutes.

Discreetly, Danault and her band have established themselves among the best of the NHL.

Tatar said "do not look too much at statistics", even if he "feels some pressure from outside".

"We had a go-go, but we want to improve. We try not to listen too much, "he added.

Claude Julien had also dismantled this value for the first time during the meeting in Buffalo and did the same against the Red Wings Thursday.

"(Tonight), they looked more like the trio we knew last year," said the coach.

Being able to rest on this trio allows Julien to subtract other vital elements from the best opponent's competition, leaving them more room for maneuver. We think of Jonathan Drouin, for example, who once again had a strong game with a goal and a pass.

Danault, Gallagher and Tatar offered rough play for four games. That they seem to have found their bearings in the fifth match is certainly the most reassuring news for the team.

We do not lack confidence, we know what we have to do. We were just a little off. There was no doubt in our mind. We said enough, enough. It was time to start contributing on both sides of the rink.

Mission accomplished.

A lot of

Drouin has scored at least one point in every game this year. The Quebecer had a rather pale training camp and social networks were already showing the dissatisfaction of the fans in his place even before the first official duel.

The attacker responded with a great start, an implication of all times that allows him to deploy his immense talent. A treat for the eye, really.

The fans gave it to him in the post-game interview at the center of the rink. Drouin was warmly acclaimed.

His trainer then threw flowers at him.

"Jonathan is probably playing his best hockey since he's been with us. He plays with a lot of confidence, a lot of energy. At the same time, it shows what a player can do to others too. It is not others who make it better, it is he who makes others better. It's a good sign for us and he deserves a lot of credit for that. His training camp was not easy, but he has adjusted well since the start of the season, "said Julien.

Since consistency has always been its weak point, it will be more revealing when the sample expands.