Can Canadiens Cope Without Saku Koivu?

The true measure of a team is determined not by how many wins it chalks up but how many wins it chalks up without its key players.

The Houston Rockets are a perfect example.  When Yao Ming was felled by a stress fracture in his foot, the team had an NBA best 12-game winning streak going.  The loss of the team's power center spelled certain doom and gloom, spouted NBA sportswriters everywhere. It was deemed a stunning setback for a team who was making a push for the playoffs.

Ten more wins followed before the streak came to an end.  The '07-'08 Rockets sit second in the all-time winning streaks record books, behind the Los Angeles Lakers of '71-'72.  Houston is well on its way to the postseason.

The Montreal Canadiens have already punched their ticket to the play-offs in a see-saw week that ended on the downside.

Team captain Saku Koivu is out for the final few games of the regular season and probably the first round of the playoffs becase of a fracture in his foot.  

Koivu is the heart of this team and a perennial fan favourite.  He has worn the mantle of leadership well and he is well respected by the organization, the league, fellow players and by the entire of city of Montreal.   He is also the recipient of the King Clancy Memorial Award, given to the player who best exemplifies leadership both on and off the ice and someone who makes a difference in their community.  

Before that question can be answered, a couple of things to consider:

Koivu's line has not been particular stellar this season, with coach Guy Carbonneau having to pull off several juggling acts to get some red lights.  As it stands, Koivu is fifth overall on the team this season, with 16 goals and 40 assists. 

Statistics aside, however, the last time the Canadiens made it into the playoffs, Carolina Hurricanes forward Justin Williams hit Koivu in the eye with a stick, taking him out of the series and resulting in a eye surgery for the captain, who needed to have his retina reattached. 

The loss of Koivu during that playoff run demoralized the team who went on to lose the series.  

It's a much different team this time around, with players like Alex Kovalev, Tomas Plekanec and the Kostitsyn brothers stepping up and making big plays and scoring big goals.  

However, Koivu isn't the only Canadiens player recovering from injury.  The team's towering defenseman, Mike Komisarek is dealing with a sore hip; Mark Streit was hurt in the same game as Koivu also felled by a foot injury; and Guillaume Latendresse is still listed as day-to-day with a stiff neck.  These players, perhaps with the exception of Latendresse, have been key elements in the success of this team this year, a team written off before the season even began. 

It's a potential recipe for disaster in a city desperate to see the 25th Stanley Cup banner raised to the rafters of the Bell Center.  If Kovalev's line continues to play the way its been playing, if rookie goalie Carey Price backstops like Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy did all those years ago, there's still a chance that will happen. 

You gotta' have faith but also a whole lotta' heart.