Canadiens must learn to handle adversity on the fly
The Montreal Canadiens seemingly breezed through the regular season. Behind the stellar play of goaltender Carey Price, they never went on a prolonged losing streak, never endured serious injuries and never had to worry about their playoff spot.
But two games into the second round of the playoffs, the Canadiens are confronting a hefty share of adversity as they face a 2-0 deficit against a Tampa Bay team Montreal has still yet to beat this season. In the do-or-die playoffs, Montreal now needs to learn how to handle adversity on the fly.
As NHL.com wrote, the Canadiens wilted in frustration in Game 2 of the series. It showed in the penalties the team took, unsportsmanlike conduct calls and cross-checks immediately after killing off a penalty, and it certainly showed when Brandon Prust threw his elbow pad at the Tampa bench following an on-ice skirmish.
"I’m frustrated," Max Pacioretty admitted to NHL.com after the game. "I’ll be [angry] tonight. I've got two [days] in between games to figure it out, get better, get the right mindset, get the right attitude to come back and try and win a series."
(h/t NHL)
GIF Prust chucks a glove into the Bolts bench (did it belong to a Tampa player?) pic.twitter.com/6sE6pjjQc3
— Stephanie Vail (@myregularface) May 4, 2015
