Credit Guy Boucher for Some of the Montreal Canadiens' Recent Success

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Guy Boucher, the Hamilton Bulldogs Head Coach, has his 'Dogs sitting pretty in fourth place of the American Hockey League's Western Conference. He's also led to the rapid development of a few of his now former players who are holding down roster spots on the Montreal Canadiens.

The rapid and unexpected development of Ryan White and Tom Pyatt led to Guilluame Latendresse and Kyle Chipchura's departure from Montreal.   

Pyatt and White both bring constant energy, solid two-way play and great forechecking. They can both be placed in key situations.

White, who was drafted as primarily an offensive threat, has turned his game around to include great two-way hockey, which has helped the Canadiens tremendously in their recent run to eighth in the East.

Boucher was also able to somewhat tame wild child Sergei Kostitsyn.

Kostitsyn's patience has paid off as he's been playing great hockey and is also showing that two-way hockey that Boucher products have been showing lately.

Kostitsyn was put out on the penalty kill in last night's game against the Senators, a testament to Boucher's defensive mind and teaching abilities.  The younger Kostitsyn used to avoid playing defensive hockey as much as he did playing with the Bulldogs.

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The turnaround in these few player's games have given the Canadiens more defensive accountability and in the case of Kostitsyn given the Habs offense a little push. Just as Guy Boucher is pushing defensive accountability on the future Canadiens.