Subban finally in a place where he can succeed
Habs fans won’t be happy, but Predators proving an ideal fit for play-making D-man
You can blame P.K. Subban for this column.
He’s the one who had yet another big game in the playoffs and then created yet another viral moment afterwards in his post-game interview. He’s the one who keeps reminding Montreal Canadiens fans of the trade that won’t go away.
We’re sorry for that. The worst part about ending a relationship isn’t the act of breaking up, it’s seeing your smiling ex holding hands with a new partner.
But we’re not going to write about what might have been had the Habs not traded Subban or linger over the fact the Canadiens probably wished they’d had the 27-year-old defenceman in their lineup when they failed to advance past the first round.
What most people miss when they look back at last year’s Subban-for-Shea Weber trade is that it’s not that Montreal got rid of Subban — it’s that Subban escaped Montreal and found a team where he could succeed.
The Nashville Predators are a significantly better team than the Canadiens. They would be the better team if they still had Weber in the lineup, too. That they now have a defenceman who is fearless with the puck, has a bomb for a shot and is a game-breaker only makes them that much more dangerous. Just ask the Chicago Blackhawks, who were swept by the Predators in the first round of the playoffs.
On Wednesday, Subban used that big shot from the point to score his first goal of the postseason. He finished the 4-3 win with three points and capped off the magical evening by asking analyst Pierre McGuire “what’s the secret” to him looking better every day.
This was Subban at his best: Electrifying on the ice, charismatic off it.
“I try to live up to what I’m paid to do,” Subban told reporters after the game. “I just try to step up and lead by example on the ice and do my job, and today I got lucky a couple times. The puck went in for me.”
Subban has five points in five games during the playoffs. With the exception of Alexander Radulov, that’s more than anyone on Montreal’s roster scored in six games. Montreal certainly could have used that offence when the team managed only 11 goals in six games against the New York Rangers.
Whether it’s Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen or Viktor Arvidsson, Nashville has more weapons than Montreal up front. With Roman Josi (two goals and four points) and Ryan Ellis (one goal and five points) on defence, Nashville has a back end that can do just as much damage as its forwards.
And if things get dicey, Pekka Rinne is there to save the day in goal. In Game 1 against the Blues, Rinne allowed two goals in the third period as St. Louis tied things up, but then was perfect in the final 10 minutes to secure the win.
It was the kind of win that helped solidify Nashville as a Stanley Cup contender. And it had to make Subban happy that he’s finally in a spot where he’s appreciated.
“I started my career in the playoffs,” Subban told reporters in St. Louis, recalling his debut as a rookie in Montreal seven years ago. “Whenever I get back here, I get a certain feeling that makes the game fun. It makes me want to elevate my game. It’s not an easy thing to do. But, let’s face it — no need to sugar-coat it. That’s why they pay me.”