With this article you get the feeling they are bringing Chow back to only kill penalties!!
Mt's newest brilliant planCzerkawski takes on new role
We're experimenting with different combos, coach Therrien says
PAT HICKEY
The Gazette
Tuesday, November 26, 2002
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Desperate times call for desperate measures, and that's why Mariusz Czerkawski returns to the Canadiens lineup tonight as a penalty-killer.
Czerkawski was acquired during the off-season with an eye toward adding some offensive power. But, as the Canadiens prepared to meet the woeful Atlanta Thrashers tonight (7:30, RDS, RSE, CJAD Radio-800), Czerkawski was paired with veteran penalty-killer Joé Juneau at yesterday's practice.
"We're experimenting with different combinations, trying to get more forwards involved," said coach Michel Therrien, whose team ranks last in penalty-killing efficiency with a success rate of 73 per cent. "We want to get more people involved so that we always have fresh bodies on the ice."
Czerkawski should be well-rested after spending the past three games as a healthy scratch. He's penciled in on the fourth line with Chad Kilger and Randy McKay and said he welcomed the chance to grab some extra ice time.
"I'll do whatever they want me to do," Czerkawski said. "Obviously, the fourth line doesn't get a lot of ice time, so if I can get some more on the PK, that's good."
Czerkawski admitted that he had limited experience killing penalties. He didn't kill any penalties last season with the New York Islanders. Therrien has used him there a couple of times and said he was happy with the results, although Czerkawski noted that his last experience wasn't that successful.
"The last game I played (against Pittsburgh on Nov. 18), I was on the ice when (Dick) Tarnstrom scored. I think I dropped down too low," Czerkawski said. In shuffling the deck yesterday, Therrien split up Juneau and Andreas Dackell, the team's best penalty-killing duo. Dackell was practicing with Oleg Petrov as the Canadiens devoted most of the 80-minute workout to special teams.
Dackell seemed at a loss to explain the collapse of the penalty-killing unit, which ranked fifth in the NHL last season with identical personnel.
When someone suggested that the Canadiens practiced their penalty-killing for a good reason, Dackell said: "You mean a really good reason."
While the departure of former assistant coach Guy Carbonneau has been cited as a principal reason for the downturn, Dackell came to the defence of assistant coach Guy Charron.
"Carbo was a good coach on the PK, but Guy has done a good job," Dackell said. "He's prepared us, and the bottom line is that the players on the ice are the ones who have to do the job.
"The most important thing to remember about the PK is that it's a team responsibility. You have to have all four players working together and trusting each other. We haven't had that this season. In the beginning, we had problems down low; lately, the problems have been all over the place. Confidence is a big part of the game, and we don't have that now."
When asked about the most glaring problem on the PK, Dackell said the Canadiens have to do a better job clearing the puck from their zone.
"When you get it down the ice, that takes at least 20 seconds off the penalty. But if it's getting stopped at the blue line all the time, that means the other team is putting the pressure on you for 30 to 40. That's when you get tired and the other team gets good scoring chances. We've been giving up far too many chances, and it hurts with all the penalties being called this season."
On paper, the Canadiens have a soft touch tonight, but the Thrashers' power play is better than average. Atlanta's biggest problem has been in goal, but they addressed that issue last week when they signed unrestricted free-agent Byron Dafoe. The veteran will make his first start for Atlanta tonight.
The Canadiens will counter with José Theodore, who is hoping to bounce back from a 7-3 drubbing by Carolina Saturday night.
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