A Word About Therrien

Many people I know ( myself included) have been quick to criticize Michel Therrien this season, mostly about line changes and seemingly endless combinations of players, regardless of how things turned out.

At this point, I believe it's time to give credit where credit is due. Due to injuries to key players and acquisition of others, Therrien had no choice but to fiddle with the lines. The problem came about when it appeared as though Therrien wasn't coaching, merely changing lines around. As we have recently learned, he was coaching the whole time. We only saw the visible side, which was the one that appeared on the ice. All the coaching was being done in the privacy of the locker room and at practices where we can't watch and participate in everyone's favorite pastime: armchair quarterbacking.

It seems now that we were all premature in judging his coaching prowess. This team has been coached exceptionally well and has matured well beyond its years, evidenced by their poise after clinching the Eastern Conference Championship by whooping the Flyers, and their refusal of the Prince of Wales trophy into the locker room. Therrien admitted that it was the players who decided not to invite in the trophy, but you must admit it is due to his coaching.

If they can stay composed and play in the Finals like they did in games 1, 2, 3 and 5, prepare to be sipping some brandy with Lord Stanley.