Before Saturday's win in Montreal, Yanni Gourde talked at length with the English- and French-speaking media on a range of subjects, including the good memories of winning a second Stanley Cup in a final series with the Canadiens last season. Gourde faces a good number of his Cup-winning teammates Wednesday (though not his ex-linemates, Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman, who both left for other teams and six-year contracts).
Gourde is one of the core players selected in the expansion draft GM Ron Francis and coach Dave Hakstol envision as a building block for the franchise. Gourde, named an alternate captain this season, hasn't disappointed.
Lately, Gourde is centering between Colin Blackwell and Mason Appleton on the wings. The Gourde-Blackwell duo has produced three shorthanded goals in the last six games. Appleton has been crisp and effective net-front, scoring and creating chaos (and losing two goals in the last two games disallowed due to offside challenges).
"We are keeping it simple [on our line]," Gourde said. "We are taking what the other team provides us. We are making more automatic plays [staying together as a unit in multiple recent games]. That's makes it easier for us."
Hakstol indicated the forward lines for Wednesday will be "very similar" to Saturday and the Gourde line no doubt stays intact. Keeping trios together upfront is one of the biggest challenges that Hakstol and assistant coach Paul McFarland (who oversees the forwards) have faced all season.
