Scherbak: Maturation on point

BROSSARD - Nikita Scherbak feels like a new man.

Despite getting hurt just two games into his call-up in October, Scherbak bounced back, returning to the Laval Rocket with a renewed sense of self-assurance and maturity, and ready to help the Habs' farm team every which way he could.
"Confidence was the main reason. I played in every situation there, I had a lot of ice time. I've had all kinds of opportunities on the ice, power play, I had a lot of ice time," said Scherbak, who recorded six goals and 15 assists in the 18 AHL games he played after recovering from knee surgery. "I feel more confident; I trust myself more."
Scherbak was called back up to the Canadiens on Friday, and took no time at all to jump right back into the fray.
"I liked his shifts, everything he brought all weekend. He's skating much better than last year (that's what I've been told)," praised Julien, who sent Scherbak out for 10:41 and 15:38 against the Ducks and Senators, respectively. "I think his game is much better, he reacts well in most situations, so I was really happy with his weekend."

The 22-year-old had an excellent two games back indeed, picking up his first and second career NHL assists (he had scored his first goal in his first-ever game last season), and registering a team-high five shots on net in Sunday's tilt against Ottawa.
It seems like Scherbak has adjusted well, a process he said was made easier by the fact that the Habs play a similar system to the Rocket, as well as by the support of his teammates. Not that he's been hitting them up for advice all that much.
"Not really. When I do, the guys help a lot, so it's easy to be around [them]. Charlie [Hudon] and I have been playing together for a couple of seasons," noted No. 38, who is third in team scoring on the Rocket with 30 points (7G, 23A) in just 24 games. "He's been here, so he helps me. He's a good friend and I appreciate it a lot."

And what was the nature of that help from his friend?
"You have a good shot, get the puck on net. You have a good stick, so protecting the puck is easy for you. I just told him to shoot and that's what he did during the game, he created a lot of chances," said Hudon of Scherbak, whose weekend assists both came with the man advantage. "On the power play, we talk a lot, so it's a big help."

The Moscow native isn't left wanting for friends on the Montreal roster; the list doesn't stop with his former St. John's IceCaps teammate, Hudon. Fellow Russian-speaker Alex Galchenyuk has become close with Scherbak, and the veteran of 389 NHL contests had some helpful tips and tricks of his own to offer up.
"Just play your game. Sometimes, when you get to the NHL, you start thinking that the rinks are different, that there's much more attention and pressure," outlined Galchenyuk. "But you have to block that out, have tunnel vision, and know what you can do and what your assets are, what's going to help for him to play his game. Just stay focused."

Although Scherbak's second stint in Montreal this season got off to a solid start, the 6-foot-2, 192-pounder is determined to ensure his performance over the weekend doesn't go down as a one-off experience.
"I just want to build on [it]. I had a couple of good games, but I don't want to stop," he concluded. "I don't want people to just think of those couple of games, I want to build on it, keep going the same way, [get] even better."