Pacioretty bares soul, admits Canadiens' struggles have affected his game
Max Pacioretty hates losing. Problem is, the Montreal Canadiens are becoming experts in the art.
The captain of the floundering squad talked about how he's dealing with what has become a very trying season, especially as rumors of a rift between P.K. Subban and head coach Michel Therrien intensify.
"It's definitely my biggest test, not as a captain, but as a player, as a person, to dig out of this. We know what's going on," Pacioretty said, according to NHL.com's Arpon Basu. "It's definitely added pressure, it's added stress, but if you can see the light at the end of the tunnel and know and genuinely believe that you'll be better from this, then that's the only way to handle it. It's definitely easy to lose sight of that because things have been going so poorly. I take most of that responsibility wearing the 'C.'
"But I think for me it's going to be a great learning experience because the best way I can help the team is just by focusing on my game, and I've let it affect my game. I've tried to take too much on my shoulders and I think the message to me from everyone who has very good opinions, who have been in situations like this before, is to worry about your game first. That's the best way you can help your team. I think that message really got received after that Arizona game and that tough practice in Colorado."
Pacioretty has 20 goals and 20 assists on the season, but his production has dipped, much like the team's, after an incredible start. He had 24 points in his first 25 games, as the Canadiens vaulted to the top of the Eastern Conference. He has 16 points in 33 games since.
He spoke on, clearly a lot on his mind.
"We're in the position we're in, we know it, and we can only focus on the future. I think moving forward I just have to worry about playing the best I can. At the end of the day we're all only human. I can't change the past, I can't change the way I've handled things. But every time I've learned a life lesson or have gotten better it's through learning through experience. It's definitely been a tough experience, but I have to get better from this and I have to learn what it takes to be a great captain.
"It's obviously not the way I mapped out the season. Right from the summer, getting injured, no camp, no summer training. It's a great start to the last couple of months that we've had. But I genuinely have to feel there's light at the end of the tunnel and that if we handle this the right way and we're professionals with the right attitude, we will be better from this. It's tough to keep the faith in that at times when there's all this stress and the noise ... and the pressure. But I think at the end of the day that's why we play this game and it's what makes us better."
Pacioretty sounds like he's accepted the Canadiens' fate this season. The club is going to need to play like it did in October and November in order to make the playoffs, and with Carey Price still out, that's about as unlikely as it gets.