BROSSARD, Que. — Martin St. Louis shared a personal anecdote that serves as a pertinent lesson for his young and inexperienced players as they approach the playoffs.
The Montreal Canadiens` coach recounted his own early Stanley Cup Playoff experiences, highlighting the challenges of youth and inexperience.
“I was extremely excited,” St. Louis admitted. “It was against Washington, with players like Jagr and Gonchar. We lost our first two games, and I believe my excitement was overwhelming.”
This reaction was understandable, even for a 26-year-old St. Louis who already had a significant number of NHL games under his belt.
Having grown up watching the Canadiens in playoff action from Laval, Quebec, and having aspired to play in the NHL playoffs for years, St. Louis felt the pressure in his initial playoff games against legendary players like Jagr and Gonchar. The sheer anticipation amplified his adrenaline, clouding his focus.
Despite a strong regular season in 2002-03 where he scored 33 goals and 37 assists, St. Louis played significant minutes in the first two games but only managed one assist in those defeats.
“But I settled down,” St. Louis continued, “and we proceeded to win four consecutive games.”
St. Louis went on to score five goals and contribute three assists, becoming a pivotal factor in the Lightning`s series victory. This is a story he will likely share with his current team.
The Canadiens are entering the playoffs as the youngest team. They are set to face the Washington Capitals, a seasoned team led by Alex Ovechkin, arguably the greatest goal scorer of all time. For the Canadiens to cause an upset, their youngest players must step up and be difference-makers.
According to St. Louis, there is a key approach for young players like 19-year-old Ivan Demidov, 21-year-olds Juraj Slafkovsky and Lane Hutson, and 23-year-old Kaiden Guhle to achieve this.
“I firmly believe in maintaining control,” St. Louis explained. “Once you grasp this concept, you can simply play the game instead of trying to force plays due to heightened emotions.”
It might take a game or two for these four inexperienced players to fully internalize this lesson.
However, if that is the only adjustment needed, the Canadiens might have a better chance against the Capitals than many anticipate.
Tristan Blackwood