Following a heartbreaking loss in the final seconds of Game 3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning Wednesday, Ron MacLean weighed in on the future of Montreal Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien.
During a guest appearance Thursday on Dean Blundell & Co. on Sportsnet 590 The Fan, the host of Coach’s Corner and Rogers Hometown Hockey was asked whether another playoff disappointment in Montreal could prompt Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin to consider a change behind the bench.
“I implicitly trust (Bergevin’s) judgment, but this may have been a tough one to swallow,” MacLean said. “It looks like a little bit of a lack of composure behind the bench cost them.
Ron MacLean on Dean Blundell & Co.
“I’m kicking him when he’s down, and that’s not fair to (Therrien). He’s done a fantastic job (in Montreal). But that loss against Ottawa two years ago and this loss seem to stem a little bit from losing their composure.”
Therrien, who was hired by Bergevin, has coached Montreal for the past three seasons, compiling a record of 125-64-23. However, the team has only won 15 of 31 post-season games during that stretch. It is his second coaching stint with the franchise.
The Canadiens overachieved this past season due to the play of Hart Trophy and Vezina Trophy finalist Carey Price. The club overcame poor underlying numbers in terms of goal differential, puck possession and shots allowed to finish with the best record in the Atlantic Division.
Montreal faces elimination Thursday, as they trail the Lightning 3-0 in their second-round series. But MacLean says it would be unfair to blame the Canadiens coach for what happened in Wednesday’s 2-1 loss.
“They absolutely dominated (Wednesday) night,” he explained. “Marc may just look at it and say that they had a great season and (Lightning goalie Ben) Bishop stood on his head. Hopefully for Michel, that’s how he looks at it.”
In the segment, MacLean also praised the play of Lightning forward Tyler Johnson, whom he believes is a legitimate Conn Smythe Trophy candidate.
“He’s so clutch,” MacLean explained. “When they were in trouble in Game 4 against Detroit, he had the two goals in the third period that got them back in that game. He had clutch goals in all of that series.”
