Sabourin calls out Josh Anderson after hit knocks D’Astous out of playoffs
Photo credit: Tampa Bay Lightning
Scott Sabourin broke his silence Wednesday morning, and his message was aimed directly at Josh Anderson.
The Lightning enforcer made clear he was inserted into the Game 2 lineup with a specific purpose: answering for Anderson's hit on Charles-Edouard D'Astous in Game 1 that knocked the Tampa defenseman out of the game.
"We didn't appreciate what he did to D'Astous," Sabourin said. And he wanted Anderson to know it. Every Canadien in that locker room, too.
D'Astous dressed for only 1 game this playoff run. He is listed day-to-day with an undisclosed injury and did not dress Tuesday night as Tampa won Game 2 in overtime.
Sabourin played 8:20 in that game. He picked up 2 penalty minutes. And late in the third period, with the Canadiens on the power play in a tie game, he took an interference penalty that nearly cost Tampa the win.
He owned it after.
"It's hard to find the right balance," Sabourin admitted. "You saw it, I hurt my team. Emotions are high in the playoffs, so you have to be careful. I made a mistake with that penalty and it could have cost us the win. I'll try not to repeat that."
Jon Cooper backs Sabourin despite the costly penalty
That kind of accountability is easy to dismiss. But Jon Cooper did not back away from his enforcer after the game.
Cooper said Tampa plays "bigger" when Sabourin is in the lineup. That is not an accident. It is a deliberate choice, and Cooper is sticking with it.
Anderson, for his part, has been one of Montreal's best players through two games. Two goals in 2 playoff appearances, both at even strength, going +2 in the series. He is not hiding.
Which means this storyline is not going away.
TVA Sports reported this morning that the Canadiens may not be done with the Lightning's enforcer. Game 3 is Thursday at the Bell Centre, and the question of whether Sabourin stays in the lineup adds a real layer of tension to an already physical series.
The series is tied 1-1. Montreal won Game 1 in overtime on the road, Tampa responded with a Game 2 overtime win at home. Now it shifts to Montreal.
Anderson has heard the warning. How he responds, and how Martin St-Louis manages the matchup game at the Bell Centre, will tell us a lot about how this series unfolds.
Sabourin delivered his message. The next move belongs to the Canadiens.
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