Monday, October 15, 2001
When Canadiens coach Michel Therrien was asked if there would be lineup changes for tonight's game against the New York Rangers (7:30 p.m., RDS, CJAD Radio-800), he smiled and replied: "Peut-?tre."
Maybe?
You can count on a change or two. With the increased depth on the team this season, Therrien has discovered that the ability to make changes is both a luxury and a necessity.
Depth means that Therrien can tailor his lineup to fit the opposition, matching speed with speed or muscle with muscle. It means he can reward players who are hot or sit someone who is not. But he also realizes that he has to keep the extra players involved.
Depth and Flexibility
That's why Reid Simpson came out of the press box for Friday's game in Columbus and provided a goal and an assist.
In addition to depth, Therrien has some flexibility because he has players like Chad Kilger, who are versatile. Since coming to the Canadiens from Edmonton last November, Kilger has played every conceivable role for a forward.
While Therrien has Kilger penciled as a left winger on one of the bottom two lines, he made an appearance as the centre on the No. 2 line Saturday night against New Jersey and, when the final siren sounded, Kilger had logged more ice than any other Montreal forward - 19 minutes and 25 seconds. In addition to playing between Martin Rucinsky and Richard Zednik, he also saw action as a penalty-killer.
"I'm comfortable wherever they want me to play," Kilger said.
"There are little adjustments you have to make. I think there's more skating involved when you play centre and when I'm on the wing, there are more opportunities to be physical along the boards.
"Wherever I play, I just try to play my game and finish my checks," Kilger said.
Kilger doesn't get too concerned about the politics of where he plays. He figures that if he works hard, he'll be rewarded with ice time and opportunities. In Columbus Saturday, he made his season debut at centre on the fourth line with Simpson and Patrick Poulin and he picked up an assist for his first point of the season.
By the end of the game, he had replaced Jan Bulis at the centre on what became the not-quite-Czech line.
"I enjoy playing with Marty and Richard because they're so strong down low," Kilger said.
"When they have the puck against the boards, they're not going to lose the puck. I can concentrate on trying to establish a position in front and I know they'll get the puck out."
First-Round Choice
One surprise over the past two games has been Kilger's performance in the faceoff circle. He won 7 of 12 faceoffs in Columbus and 8 of 13 against New Jersey.
"I was surprised when I saw those stats because I didn't think I had won that many," Kilger said.
"I was a little rusty and I have to work on my timing. I knew I was going to play centre in Columbus because Carbo (assistant coach Guy Carbonneau) had me work on my faceoffs after the skate and that helped."
It should be noted that in the three games prior to moving to centre, Kilger took five faceoffs and won four of them.
Kilger was a first-round draft choice (fourth over-all) of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1995 but never quite lived up to his advance billing.
He had a breakthrough last season after joining the Canadiens, establishing himself as a valuable two-way player.
Kilger is excited about the Canadiens' quick start this season.
"The important thing is that everybody is working hard and we're getting great goaltending from Jeff (Hackett) and Jos? (Th?odore.).
Th?odore gets the call tonight.
Jo? Juneau and Patrice Brisebois both passed on practice yesterday. Juneau is nursing undisclosed bumps and bruises while Therrien said Brisebois will play tonight despite a painful foot injury.
Brisebois "has showed a lot of courage, playing the way he has in the last two games," Therrien said.
When Canadiens coach Michel Therrien was asked if there would be lineup changes for tonight's game against the New York Rangers (7:30 p.m., RDS, CJAD Radio-800), he smiled and replied: "Peut-?tre."
Maybe?
You can count on a change or two. With the increased depth on the team this season, Therrien has discovered that the ability to make changes is both a luxury and a necessity.
Depth means that Therrien can tailor his lineup to fit the opposition, matching speed with speed or muscle with muscle. It means he can reward players who are hot or sit someone who is not. But he also realizes that he has to keep the extra players involved.
Depth and Flexibility
That's why Reid Simpson came out of the press box for Friday's game in Columbus and provided a goal and an assist.
In addition to depth, Therrien has some flexibility because he has players like Chad Kilger, who are versatile. Since coming to the Canadiens from Edmonton last November, Kilger has played every conceivable role for a forward.
While Therrien has Kilger penciled as a left winger on one of the bottom two lines, he made an appearance as the centre on the No. 2 line Saturday night against New Jersey and, when the final siren sounded, Kilger had logged more ice than any other Montreal forward - 19 minutes and 25 seconds. In addition to playing between Martin Rucinsky and Richard Zednik, he also saw action as a penalty-killer.
"I'm comfortable wherever they want me to play," Kilger said.
"There are little adjustments you have to make. I think there's more skating involved when you play centre and when I'm on the wing, there are more opportunities to be physical along the boards.
"Wherever I play, I just try to play my game and finish my checks," Kilger said.
Kilger doesn't get too concerned about the politics of where he plays. He figures that if he works hard, he'll be rewarded with ice time and opportunities. In Columbus Saturday, he made his season debut at centre on the fourth line with Simpson and Patrick Poulin and he picked up an assist for his first point of the season.
By the end of the game, he had replaced Jan Bulis at the centre on what became the not-quite-Czech line.
"I enjoy playing with Marty and Richard because they're so strong down low," Kilger said.
"When they have the puck against the boards, they're not going to lose the puck. I can concentrate on trying to establish a position in front and I know they'll get the puck out."
First-Round Choice
One surprise over the past two games has been Kilger's performance in the faceoff circle. He won 7 of 12 faceoffs in Columbus and 8 of 13 against New Jersey.
"I was surprised when I saw those stats because I didn't think I had won that many," Kilger said.
"I was a little rusty and I have to work on my timing. I knew I was going to play centre in Columbus because Carbo (assistant coach Guy Carbonneau) had me work on my faceoffs after the skate and that helped."
It should be noted that in the three games prior to moving to centre, Kilger took five faceoffs and won four of them.
Kilger was a first-round draft choice (fourth over-all) of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1995 but never quite lived up to his advance billing.
He had a breakthrough last season after joining the Canadiens, establishing himself as a valuable two-way player.
Kilger is excited about the Canadiens' quick start this season.
"The important thing is that everybody is working hard and we're getting great goaltending from Jeff (Hackett) and Jos? (Th?odore.).
Th?odore gets the call tonight.
Jo? Juneau and Patrice Brisebois both passed on practice yesterday. Juneau is nursing undisclosed bumps and bruises while Therrien said Brisebois will play tonight despite a painful foot injury.
Brisebois "has showed a lot of courage, playing the way he has in the last two games," Therrien said.
