FLA@MTL: On growth, chemistry, and some secrets, too

BROSSARD - The Canadiens are heading into the final 10-game stretch of 2017-18, and are presented with yet another opportunity for growth and to play the role of spoiler with the Florida Panthers in town on Monday night.

Montreal will be looking for redemption after being shut out in Toronto on Saturday night. And while the team did not skate on Sunday, head coach Claude Julien affirms that he and his staff came to work nonetheless in order to help that growth process move along.
"I definitely wasn't happy with the second period [against Toronto]. There's accountability that comes into play. We didn't practice yesterday, but we were here yesterday. We had to do some things that needed to be addressed and get better," outlined the Habs bench boss. "That's part of our mantra from here until the end, is to continue to work to make this team better. What we do this year, we won't have to start from scratch next year. We're really pushing; we're going to keep coaching and teaching right until the last game."

With four goals and five assists in nine games, Alex Galchenyuk has produced at a point-per-game clip thus far in March and sees no reason why he or his fellow Habs should be lacking in motivation as the season wraps up.
"There are 10 games to get better, as an individual and as a team. We're a young team, a lot of guys have been given the chance to show what they're capable of doing. It's exciting," described Galchenyuk. "Everybody wants to prove themselves. We played a couple of good games not long ago. We have to build on that and find a way to win at home."
Galchenyuk's efforts and determination have been rubbing off on his linemate of the past three games, Artturi Lehkonen, with whom he affirms he's developed a solid rapport.
"Chemistry is such a big part of the game these days. We talk a lot on the bench; we try to improve our game. Whenever I have the puck, I tell him to get open. He's a good shooter, and I want him to have more shooting opportunities during the game. He also makes good plays," praised Galchenyuk of Lehkonen, who had scored four goals in the four games before the Canadiens were blanked by the Maple Leafs. "We have to build on the last couple of games and provide the team with offense."

The sophomore Finnish forward has enjoyed a renaissance of late, but isn't the only Hab who's been on an upward trajectory more recently. Jonathan Drouin, for his part, has four points (1G, 3A) in his last five games and has demonstrated a marked improvement in the faceoff dot in that span.
"He's playing well, he's playing better, he's been good on faceoffs," outlined Julien. "You reward players who show things to earn more ice time. I think everyone would agree with me that Jonathan has been playing good hockey the past few weeks."
Fellow Quebecer Nicolas Deslauriers has seen things through the same lens as his coach, pointing out that Drouin has taken on extra duties on special teams and has performed them admirably.
"I'm often with him, I see that lately his faceoff percentage is really high," offered up Deslauriers, perhaps referring to the fact Drouin has won 64.2% of his 81 draws the past five games. "I don't know what's changed, but you see he's playing better. He's also taking on more responsibilities on the penalty kill. Against Pittsburgh, he was taking faceoffs on a 5-on-3. You see he's comfortable in that role. It for sure wasn't a role he had at the start, but you see how seriously he takes it. I hope he continues this way because the last four or five games, it's going super well."

Deslauriers may not be privy to any tweaks in Drouin's game, but the Sainte-Agathe native confirms he has made some modifications. But Drouin was just as coy with reporters as he presumably had been with his teammate when asked what was behind his turnaround in the dot.

"I changed some things, some little details. It's been going really well lately. I don't know if other players have watched some video, but I hope they haven't," recounted Drouin. "Tonight, we'll be playing against [Aleksander] Barkov's line, and he's a really good center. It's going to be a good challenge.
"They were some little changes, but at the moment, it's making the difference," he concluded with a smile. "I'm going to keep it my little secret."