Captain patching up game to be more ‘multi-dimensional’
Pacioretty says while the results may not be there for Canadiens, ‘I like my game’
Is Max Pacioretty in a slump or is he merely adjusting to the new reality of playing without Alex Radulov?
Pacioretty has scored only one goal in the last 11 games and he has eight goals on the season heading into Thursday’s home game against the Calgary Flames (7:30 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN-690, Radio).
When asked whether he was happy with his production, Pacioretty replied: “Not at all, but I like my game, it’s just that the chances aren’t there. It’s a different game than I’m used to and I have to adjust. I think it will make me a more multi-dimensional player.”
When asked what was different from last season, Pacioretty cited the absence of Radulov, who moved to Dallas after he became a free agent in July.
“I’m trying to hold on to the puck longer a lot more, where at times in the past I would cycle and give it to 47 (Radulov) and then get lost and look for a scoring opportunity,” Pacioretty said. “I’m trying to hold it more and create opportunities for myself and the chances haven’t been there as much as I would like, but this is a completely different way to try to produce offence.”
Pacioretty has a reputation for being a perimeter player, but one of the ironies in his current slump is most of the goals he has scored this season have come from close range.
“Almost all my goals have been a certain distance from the net,” Pacioretty said. “We have to find ways to create. By holding on to the puck longer, you want to tire out the defence and wait for them to make mistakes. I’ve always been able to score from distance, that’s my specialty, but I have to get in a position where I have chances.”
Pacioretty said he would like to emulate Radulov.
“Radu is one of the best puck possessors and he wore down the defence,” Pacioretty said. “He would tire them out and get a step and someone would have to come over to help out and then a player was open.”
While Pacioretty said he wasn’t happy with his numbers, he said he was pleased with the way the team was trending and he would help in whatever way he could.
Coach Claude Julien said he wasn’t overly concerned about the slump.
“He’s strong on the forecheck, behind the net, he’s playing on the penalty kill,” Julien said. “I know you look at goal-scorers and because they have X amount of goals, that’s what we’re looking at. But Max is doing a lot of good things other than what we’re talking abut now. He’s also a guy when the pucks start going in for him, they come in bunches. I would expect that to happen as well.”
Speaking of which, it should be noted Pacioretty had eight goals at this time last season. He started the push for his 35-goal season Dec. 10, when he scored four goals against the Colorado Avalanche.
In other news, Jonathan Drouin is ready to rejoin the team as soon as he shakes off a flu bug that has kept him off the ice the last two days. He could face Calgary, but the more likely scenario is Saturday against Edmonton.
And Victor Mete was not among the 32 players invited to the national junior team training camp Wednesday. There were no NHL players invited to the camp, but he may still be added to the squad.
Julien said no decision has been made on making Mete available for the world juniors, but he said the Canadiens would do what was best for Mete and the team.
Canadiens prospect Will Bitten was not among the invited players. He was at the summer camp, but has struggled this season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Hamilton Bulldogs.