Montreal 3 NY Islanders 4 SO (Nassau Coliseum)
"I know I've made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal. I've still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission. And I want to help you."—HAL 9000
Before you read the attribution, were you thinking of someone else? You would be excused if the quote made you think of Jacques Martin.
It's been said that Martin is one of the least emotional coaches in the league. He speaks in a calm, monotone voice, not unlike HAL, the 9000 series computer from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Don't be fooled. The voice and the blank look on Martin's face are masking what lies beneath. He often makes coaching decisions based less on reason and more on emotion. When he does, like the experience with HAL, things don't end very well.
There are numerous examples going all the way back to the beginning of the season. With Martin in a snit with Andrei Kostitsyn, the sniper sat on the bench in the third period while his team trailed. The Canadiens lost the game to the Oilers.
Two weeks ago, the Canadiens' best ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Rocket All Habs
Montreal Canadiens-New York Islanders: Martin’s Emotional Choices Sink the Habs
April 6th, 2010 by Rocket All Habs Leave a reply »
Advertisement