Drouin: Inspired by a former teammate

BROSSARD - After a day off on Sunday, the Canadiens were back at work on Monday morning preparing for a tilt against the NHL's hottest team - the Colorado Avalanche.

Winners of nine straight games, Jared Bednar's club hasn't lost since December 27 and currently occupies the second wild card spot in the Western Conference.
Key in Colorado's success so far this season has been the remarkable work of the squad's top line of captain Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.
MacKinnon currently ranks second in the league with 59 points (23g - 36a) in 45 games, just two points back of leader Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
If anyone on the Canadiens knowns the 22-year-old Avalanche sniper well, it's Jonathan Drouin. He played alongside the young centerman with the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads.
In fact, the pair won a QMJHL title in 2012-13 before going on to claim the Memorial Cup later that year.
"I'm happy that things are going well for him this year. Last season, it was a bit tough on him. It's fun to see him put up points and help his team win - even if we're playing against him," said Drouin, who will likely meet up with MacKinnon on Monday evening for dinner before the pair square off on Tuesday night at the Bell Centre. "I watch his games sometimes. He's a proud player. He's always been that way. He's talented and powerful. He has speed and strength."

Drouin has enjoyed watching MacKinnon develop. It's even been somewhat inspiring for him.
"You see this year that he's taken a big step forward for his team… We played together on the same line and we generated plenty of chances. I took some positives away from that. If he's capable of playing in the NHL, of being a good player and a good leader, I can do it, too," affirmed Drouin. "This year, I'm learning every day - especially at center, because it's a new position. I'm gaining a lot of experience."
Paying extra attention to the likes of MacKinnon and Rantanen, according to head coach Claude Julien, will be of primordial importance if the Canadiens hope to hand the Avalanche their first defeat since late last year.
"Those are two players who are having good seasons, have good chemistry and find each other on the ice. We have to respect that," explained Julien, who believes the pair boast the raw skills to become an elite duo in the years to come. "I'm not sure if they're like Bergeron-Marchand just yet, because that's a unique line. But, they've got assets to become what they are. In the end, though, no matter what line combinations we're facing, if we don't work as a unit of five, they'll be tough to stop."

In other news, Ales Hemsky continued his rehab work on Monday, skating alongside the rest of his teammates. He still hasn't been cleared for contact after sustaining a concussion back in October that sidelined him indefinitely.
"It's getting longer and longer, so you question yourself with what will happen in one month or a couple of weeks. The season is getting shorter and shorter. We'll see what will happen. I have no answer right now [about coming back]," said Hemsky. "When you're not playing, it's always a tough year. I had it last year, too. It's unfortunate, but it's something you can't control. I'm just trying to get better and we'll see what happens."

Nevertheless, the 34-year-old forward believes that he's made some important progress recently.
"Right now, I feel pretty good about it. I still can't do any contact, but it's a huge step from where I was a month ago or three weeks ago," said Hemsky. "It's a huge step for me, so I'm happy I can skate and go from that. When I start doing contact, it will be another level and we'll see how I react."