Habs Hold Player-Only Meeting Behind Closed Doors

After a 6-2 road loss to the Calgary Flames, in a game where they lead 2-1 after the first period, the Montreal Canadiens held a behind-closed-doors, players-only meeting.  Les Canadiens are 2-8-0 in their last 10 games and have lost three in a row. 

Team Captain Saku Koivu was tight-lipped about the 30-minute conference.  “The meeting was called by the players; it was only players in the room.  Whatever was said in the room belongs to our guys and nobody outside of the room, and we’re going to keep it that way.”

Forward Alex Kovalev offered little insight into why the meeting was called. “We want to be all on the same page. Right now we’re going through tough times and the only way to get through it is to stick together.”

Defensemen Mike Komisarek is confident that they will return to their winning ways. “We’re a fragile team right now.  We just have to build on any momentum we get, whether it’s one shift, one period, one game.  It’s going to take everyone for us to get going.”

Despite their recent slide, the Canadiens are still fifth in the Eastern Conference with 64 points but still 21 points behind Northeast Division leaders Boston Bruins.  

Head Coach Guy Carbonneau was impressed that his team showed unity by calling the meeting, particularly at the timing of it.

“If we get to the 82nd game and we aren’t in the playoffs, that’s when it’ll be rock bottom. Right now we still have games, we still have time to come back and turn this thing around.  I think tonight was a good time to do that between the players, to air out whatever concerns they have and try to pull back together.”

The Canadiens' next game is in Edmonton on Wednesday with their second game on their six-game road trip that will have them playing away from the Bell Centre until Feb. 21.