Road to the Winter Classic: Episode 4
Share
The four-part Epix series concluded last night in what was an episode featured mostly around the Canadiens beat down of the Bruins on New year’s Day at Gillette Stadium. The episode was entertaining for sure. There was a lot to takeaway from this episode, lets take a look:
Canadiens should sick to hockey:
In the middle of their season-high eight game road trip, the Canadiens made a stop in Tampa Bay en route to last Friday’s tilt with the Bruins. The episode starts with several Canadeins forwards enjoying a game of softball a local field. Let’s just say the Habs’ players should stick to hockey, especially P.K. Subban. From strike threes to defensive errors, it wasn’t a pretty showing on the field for Montreal.
Subban the motivator:
We’ve seen how much of a leader Subban has been in the locker room thanks to the Road to the Winter Classic and it was on full force in Wednesday’s finale. We’ve seen all along that prior to each game, usually a coach, reads the starting lineup to the squad prior to gametime. Well in their shootout win over the Lightning, it was Subban who got the duties.
Subban’s style was much different than what we’ve seen from Montreal coaches. Subban went a little crazy, kicking things and throwing things around in an attempt to motivate his teammates. Subban’s methods worked as the Habs left Tampa Bay with a victory.
Stick to hockey, Frank
Much like we saw from the Canadiens, Frank Vatrano should stick to hockey. On Wednesday we saw Vatrano out in Springfield at his family owned Antonio’s, a local pizza and sub shop. Vatrano was greeted by family before making a pizza pie of his own. Vatrano struggled making his pizza and the look of the final product was, well, not what a normal pizza should look like. “He makes a mistake like that on the ice, he’s right back down in Providence” joked Vatrano’s dad. After his pizza disaster, Vatrano found a pair of kids from the local hockey team and surprised them with 30 tickets to the Winter Classic. An awesome gesture from Vatrano for sure.
Everyone wants to meet Brady
Anytime you enter Gillette Stadium, it’s to think about anything other than Tom Brady as Gillette is known as “The House that Tom Built.” Upon entering Gillette for their team skate on New Year’s Eve, Subban, teammate Dale Weise and a few Patriots linemen cross paths. Subban finds himself mesmerized by the size of the men paid to protect Brady, but really, the Habs superstar wishes someone else would stroll by.
“Dude, if Tom walked in,” Subban said. “What if Tom walks in,” added Weise. “That guy’s the real deal, that guy’s a champion.”
Moments later when checking out the ice, the demands for Tom didn’t stop. When Weise tells Brandon Gallagher hat he “saw Gronk,” (Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski) Gallagher one ups him. “I saw Tom” he says. “I was right beside him, but I couldn’t say anything. I froze, he had his big ol’ lineman around him, too intimidating.”
Coach Belichick enjoys some ice time
Prior to the Bruins crack at testing the ice, a Boston sports icon and future NFL Hall of Famer took to the ice. No not Tom Brady, but coach Bill Belichick.
The winningest coach in Patriots history catches up with Bruins legend Cam Neely. After shaking hands, Belichick and Neely exchange some friendly banter.
“Should I take my gloves off,” Belichick says. “Well, if you want to go,” says Neely.
Belichick has made some smart decisions as coach of the Patriots. Not dropping the gloves with Neely is one of them.