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 (Lake Fong/QMI Agency) |
Mike Cammalleri has spoken often about wanting to experience what it is to play for the Montreal Canadiens.
The 27-year-old, who considers himself a “romantic” when it comes to the prism through which he views sports, has done more than just experience the hurricane which can only spring up when the Canadiens get a chance to play in May.
He has helped create it.
With his NHL-leading 12 goals this playoff season, Cammalleri, along with goaltender Jaroslav Halak, of course, have been the biggest reasons for the Canadiens earning their way into the Eastern Conference final for the first time since the Habs won the Stanley Cup in 1993.
With his seven goals in the Canadiens’ upset of the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins, Cammalleri tied a franchise record for the most goals in a playoff series, joining Maurice Richard (who did it twice), Jean Beliveau, Bernard “Boom Boom” Geoffrion, Marcel Bonin, Frank Mahovlich and Guy Lafleur.
That’s pretty good company right there.
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So, the question is asked, how come nobody - not the Washington Capitals nor the Penguins, whom Cammalleri almost single-handedly slayed - has been able to keep him from scoring?
“When you get goals, it’s the direct result of team play. I don’t really know how you defend that,” said Cammalleri Friday as the Habs were back at work after the players had a day away from the rink Thursday.
“It’s other guys making plays. I’ve just been able to put the puck in the net.”
Cammalleri is modest, for sure.
He is not a player who has the puck on his stick a lot in the course of a game, but in the few seconds he does have it, he can alter its course. He’s got the great release, more often than not winding up in that classic scorer’s position with his knee on the ice after launching a one-timer.
Cammalleri has also proven to be an adept stickhandler with the media.
One of the themes Friday was whether the eighth-seeded Canadiens, after knocking off the Presidents Trophy winners and the defending Stanley Cup champions, would be considered the favourites in the next round.
“You tell me who you’re picking,” he said when asked if the Habs would be favourites in the next round. “It’s not up to me, it’s up to all of you who the favourites are.
“It’s far from over and we’ve got a long way to go. We’re not going to get too far ahead of ourselves here – we’ve got a lot to prove still,” said Cammalleri. “It is what it is. On paper, you’re not facing ((Sidney) Crosby or (Alexander) Ovechkin or (Evgeni) Malkin, so the dynamic changes a little bit, but if you get to the conference finals, you’re playing a team that’s playing pretty well so it only gets more difficult from here.”
The Canadiens are benefiting from three days off between games - the East final will start Sunday night - with top defenceman Andrei Markov participating in his first full practice Friday since suffering a knee injury in Game 1 of the series against the Penguins.
He still looks like he’s a ways off.
“At this time, I don’t know,” said Canadiens coach Jacques Martin when asked if Markov could play in the East final. “It’s something we’re going to look at, but at this point in time I have no answer to that question.”
One source said Markov is “a longshot,” to play in the East final and the club was taking the approach he had been ruled out.
If the Canadiens have shown anything this spring, it’s that they can win without Markov, which, like Halak’s goaltending and Cammalleri’s goal scoring, is another remarkable feat on an unlikely run.