MONTREAL — Carey Price was eating chocolate cake. P.K. Subban was simply watching and waiting. Michel Therrien was searching for system tendencies just like he does on any other night.
The players and coaches met for a big dinner and kept a close eye on Game 7 of the Tampa-Detroit series in the process. Some of them got quite involved in a nailbiter that was 0-0 heading to the third period, while others took a more relaxed approach.
“Just watching like everybody else, man,” Price said after Thursday’s practice. “Just watching a good hockey game.”
“I wasn’t thinking anything,” added Subban. “I was just waiting to see who we were going to play.”
It has become tradition in recent years for the Canadiens to break bread together before each playoffs series. While they typically do it the night before Game 1, coach Michel Therrien seized on the opportunity to have his players watch their next opponent play.
There was already plenty of familiarity with both possibilities, but quite different levels of success. Montreal was 4-0-0 against the Red Wings this season but failed to win any of its five meetings against the Lightning.
However, the players didn’t take a rooting interest.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to get into that,” said Price. “Then it just kind of messes with your mindframe going into the series. The game’s about reading and reacting, and that’s just another example.”
A few must have been thinking Detroit would pull it out after building a 23-12 shots advantage through two periods. However, Braydon Coburn’s goal early in the third allowed Tampa to set up a playoff rematch with the Habs.
“It was a close game that Detroit could have won had they capitalized on some of their opportunities,” said forward Lars Eller. “They did have their chances. Whatever team won you can’t say was undeserved.
“You always had the feeling that whoever got that first goal was probably going to close out that game.”
Despite how important the outcome was to Montreal’s immediate future, Therrien even managed to enjoy it. It certainly didn’t spoil his dinner.
“Nothing different than when you watch a game during the regular season on Thursday night and you know you’re going to face the other team on the Saturday,” he said.
“The players stayed to the end,” added Therrien. “So we watched the game all together. That was fun.”
The real fun begins when the Lightning arrive at Bell Centre on Friday night.
