Thumbs up to Devils, down to Watson-Prust

Dave Hodge

Host, TSN The Reporters with Dave Hodge

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Ray Shero took the general manager's baton from Lou Lamoriello in New Jersey and left no doubt that he'll do things his way when he said the Devils needed to score more goals.

First of all, thumbs up to Shero for saying something newsworthy at an introductory press conference. And never mind what it did for his credibility in New Jersey, a promise of more offensive-minded hockey from the Devils was the right thing to say if Shero wanted applause from hockey fans elsewhere in the NHL. Lamoriello's Devils knew success, to be sure, but they became the brand name for boring hockey, and when that failed them and success vanished, it wasn't fun to watch.

So what am I to say about the Washington Capitals? On the day that Shero took over in New Jersey, the Capitals blanked the New York Rangers 1-0 for a 2-1 series lead. In their last five playoff victories, three against the Islanders and now two versus the Rangers, the Caps have allowed four goals. Their last three wins have seen them score five times in games that ended 2-1, 2-1, and 1-0. Are they boring? Can't say that. Washington has received nothing but praise for the way it plays under coach Barry Trotz, and there is always the presence, and the scoring threat he brings, of Alex Ovechkin. The 1-0 win came on a goal by Jay Beagle. Perhaps Lou Lamoriello smiled.

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Let's not make too much of the Brad Watson-Brandon Prust incident.

I could get all riled up and say thumbs down to both of them.

So, okay, Watson isn't doing his job properly if he's castigating players like that, and Prust had no business tattling on the ref. But it's not an issue that's going to dominate the rest of the Montreal-Tampa Bay series unless we foolishly think that every penalty called or not called on the Canadiens has something to do with it.

What it was, and all it was, was Prust's attempt to change the subject from the bad penalty he took, to the treatment he received from the guy who called it.

It's fly-on-the-wall stuff that makes for good reading, but it has nothing to do with the bigger story at hand - that of the Canadiens' inability to solve whatever spell is cast upon them by the Lightning.

Apparently, the regular season does mean something when Tampa Bay can beat the Habs five times and then add two more wins in the playoffs to threaten a series sweep. Whether it's Tampa beating Carey Price six times or the Lightning preventing Montreal goals, or Montreal taking penalties and being unable to kill them, everything goes wrong and nothing goes right for the Habs in this matchup.

Maybe the first TB-MTL game of the season told us something. Steven Stamkos hadn't scored in the Lightning's first two starts, and the game report says he took out that frustration on the Canadiens with a hat-trick. Sound familiar?

That Stamkos would score in these playoffs was inevitable, and the reaction that followed his goal in Game 2 was a perfect illustration of relief mixed with celebration. He was bound to be a problem for Montreal. He has become just one more.