Danault: Back with the boys

BROSSARD - For better or for worse, Phillip Danault remembers everything that happened in the Canadiens' game against the Boston Bruins on January 13.

From the split second where he managed to turn his head away from Zdeno Chara's second-period slapshot, which ended up hitting him on the helmet-covered part of the back of his head, to seeing Chara and fellow Bruin Patrice Bergeron join the Habs in checking up on him as he laid on the ice awaiting a stretcher.
Danault also remembers the one thing going through his mind throughout the ordeal, and it would sound familiar to anyone who knows the mindset of a competitive and dedicated athlete:
"Am I going to come back in the third?"
The 24-year-old would not, in fact, return to game action in the Canadiens' 4-3 shootout loss to the Bruins, spending the night in hospital under observation instead.
The days and weeks that followed were challenging. Vertigo was the only symptom Danault had to endure from the ensuing concussion, which he said made walking difficult at first, and which lasted approximately three weeks overall.
"I tried not to move around too much, I spent the first night in hospital. It wasn't a fun experience, but at the same time, I learned from it," proclaimed the Victoriaville native, who said he considered himself unlucky to have been hit in the head but lucky he was hit in a protected area, which likely prevented more extensive damage. "I was able to watch games, look to improve some little things. So I had an opportunity to see the game differently."

Once he resumed skating, Danault affirms that in the early goings, he would sometimes feel unwell, but was fortunately not hit with any of the steps backwards that can be common for someone recovering from a concussion.
"Lately, I've been feeling very good. I was really looking forward to coming back and playing with the team. The medical staff did a great job and I came back at 100%, but it'll be up to the coach to decide [when I play]," he admitted. "I still have to get back into game shape. I don't want to be too out of breath, so getting into game shape in practice will be important."
When he does come back to game action, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound pivot is adamant that he would not let the experience alter the way he approaches his game. If duty calls for him to put his body in the way of an opposing shot, Danault will do just that.
"It's part of the game. I wasn't lucky [on the Chara shot], either. If I get a chance to block a shot, I'm going to do it," said Danault, who has 27 blocked shots to go along with seven goals and 16 assists in 43 games this season. "It'll for sure be in my head, but it's about getting the first one and afterwards, I imagine I'll get in the game and I won't think too much about it."
With Danault on the shelf, Claude Julien praised Paul Byron for doing an admirable job filling in between Max Pacioretty and Charles Hudon, but will be happy to have No. 24 back at his disposal.
"It's experience at center. After Plekanec, he's probably our second-best on faceoffs," outlined Julien of Danault, whose 310 wins in the dot are indeed second for Montreal. "He's a good young player and we see a lot of potential in him. It's never pleasant to see your players get hurt, especially when you need them."

Danault has cleared many hurdles since getting hurt, the latest one being the green light he was given for practice. And he is joining the team for their four-game road trek which begins with a tilt in Denver on Wednesday, meaning that another green light could soon illuminate for the young center.
"Those are good, encouraging signs. I think it's encouraging for him, too. Anybody who goes through what he went through, it can be pretty demoralizing. But he's had a great attitude; he's worked hard, he's been skating for a week and gotten better to the point where they're allowing him to practice. Hopefully, he gets the green light at some point," concluded Julien. "I don't know when, but we're bringing him on the road trip because there is the possibility he could at that point."