P.K. Subban #76 of the Montreal Canadiens. (File Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images)Francois Lacasse/Getty Images
The plain fact is that he's been kinda brutal through four games.
There's a lot of that going around on the Montreal blue-line, but it just seems that P.K. Subban's mistakes always end up with a red light flashing behind Carey Price.
And on Monday Subban came out and talked about how he needs to sharpen his play and cut out the turnovers and mistakes that have plagued the opening two weeks of his sophomore season.
"I know when I'm not playing well, and I expect to be called out for it, whether it's by the guys on my team or the coaching staff. And you know what, there's no shortage of that and there shouldn't be. I know I have to play better," Subban said.
The precocious 22-year-old had a meeting with coach Jacques Martin about his patchy form, but self-belief isn't an issue for Subban, who said it's a matter of applying more focus and judgment to his play rather than trying to be more conservative with the puck.
"I'm not going to lose confidence in my game," he said. "There's a lot of hockey left to be played."
It's a little soon to start talking about sophomore slumps, but Subban is going to be under particular scrutiny when Buffalo visits on Tuesday night.
Monday was also family photo day for Vos Canadiens, meaning a rare practice at the Bell Centre.
Mike Cammalleri skated for the first portion of practice, perhaps a case of: I've put on the skates and equipment, might as well go for a twirl. He won't play Tuesday, but is nearing a return from a nasty cut on his leg in Winnipeg eight days ago.
Jaroslav Spacek skated on his own, and Andrei Markov met with his knee doctor in Pensacola, Fla., after re-habbing under Dr. James Andrews' watchful eye for the better part of a week.
An update on Markov is expected tomorrow.