Head coach Claude Julien often preached that the Canadiens would have to be better in the preseason if they wanted success once the real dance began, and Andrew Shaw - who was not cleared to play until the first regular season game - believes that's exactly what went down.
"I think we had a great preseason. I watched a lot of the games. We got to see how hard the boys are working and how competitive they were. Coming out on top in some of those games just creates that winning atmosphere in the locker room that you like," outlined Shaw, who scored the Habs' late second-period equalizer in Toronto on Wednesday. "It's an aspect you need in your locker room. We transitioned it into the regular season."
The Canadiens have played an up-tempo brand of hockey this season that has taken advantage of the team's speed and skill. It's a style that requires a lot of hard work and exertion, but Shaw points to the chemistry in the room as a leading factor for the club's successful execution of its new system thus far.
"Team-first attitude, I think that's the attitude we need. You might sacrifice some minutes here and there, but if it's better for the team, you have to have a positive attitude on everything," described the two-time Stanley Cup winner. "Negativity is a contagious thing, and it can spread pretty quickly. Stay positive, work hard, be each other's cheerleaders."
Reilly is rolling
A prime beneficiary of Montreal's new system is defenseman Mike Reilly, who has shone in each of the Canadiens' first two games. Acquired from the Wild at the trade deadline last season, the Chicago-born, Minnesota-raised blue-liner led the Habs in ice time on Saturday night in Pittsburgh and has looked solid since the start of training camp.
"Right from the hop last year when I got traded, I got a good opportunity. I was well aware when I got traded that it was going to be a good situation for me. I think it went well," said Reilly, who registered a plus-3 rating on the team's first road trip. "The only thing I wanted to do was to try to carry that momentum over from last season to this season and keep it rolling, improve on a lot of things.
"I like to try to use my skating to the best of my ability, be that fourth guy into the rush, be able to make plays, get the puck up to those skilled forwards. We have a lot of skilled forwards this year."
