MONTREAL—Michel Therrien says he hasn't made his decision to play P.K. Subban during Saturday’s game against Buffalo, but pairing up with Francis Bouillon at practice on Friday told observers everything they need to know.
“There's a difference to be in shape and game shape. We got to be careful. We'll sit down this afernoon and sit down again and take our decision,” said Therrien.
As for Subban, the Habs defenceman was as enthusiastic as ever.
“I feel great and I’ve felt good for a while. I've been skating nonstop for the last two weeks, skating pretty hard, so I’m ready to go. At the end of the day, it's not my decision, it’s the coach’s decision. We'll see what's best for the team,” said Subban.
While we don't know for sure if P.K. is playing, we do know for sure he won't be low triple fiving with goalie Carey Price after a win. On Friday, Therrien announced that that scene of victory is no more.
“I always like teams who are humble. It's a team concept. It starts with that. In life you have to be humble. We have to respect the game. We have to respect the other team. We have to respect our fans. And the way we have decided to celebrate this year when we win a game at the Bell Centre is to salute our fans. They deserve it,” said the head coach.
The real surprise at practice was Max Pacioretty on the ice a half hour before practice in a contact jersey. The belief was that he would get off the ice when practice started, he had his appendix removed only six days ago, but Pacioretty stayed on the ice until the end.
“I was feeling those wind sprints too. That’s why I think I wanted to get on the ice as soon as possible. The doctors told me that it is in my hands that I can't make it worse. So it's the competitive nature in me to get out there as soon as I can so that when I’m playing I’m going to be ready,” said Pacioretty.
“To see him, not just out there, but moving as well as he was. He looks great and I hope we can get him back real soon,” said Habs defenceman Josh Gorges.
“He is like a wolverine or a vampire. He seems to heal well and he's in good shape and he's young so he has the properties of mending well,” Price added.
Six days out of surgery, Pacioretty has the post-surgery gauze still in place. Look for a return ahead of the three week timetable for the “wolverine.”
