The D\u2019Astous Diary is a series looking behind the scenes at Lightning defenseman Charle-Edouard D\u2019Astous\u2019 first career experience of the ins and outs of the Stanley Cup Playoffs through 1-on-1 interviews.<\/p>\n
Not unlike the Tampa Bay Lightning First Round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens as a whole, Lightning defenseman Charle-Edouard D\u2019Astous\u2019 first taste of the Stanley Cup Playoffs has been a bit of a roller coaster.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old defenseman made his NHL playoff debut in Game 1 but saw just 9:35 of ice time before being forced to exit the game due to injury. He then had to miss the next four games.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was unfortunate that I got injured last game and I wish I could have helped the team earlier, but that\u2019s just hockey,\u201d he said. \u201cNow that I\u2019m back I\u2019m really excited, and I\u2019m happy to be back and be able to contribute.\u201d<\/p>\n
D\u2019Astous said it was difficult to watch games from the press box when he\u2019s accustomed to being on the ice with his teammates. Every game and every play, he remained analyzing\u2014and sometimes perhaps stressing\u2014from afar.<\/p>\n
He chuckled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like it was a little bit more nerve-racking when you watch from up top than when you play,\u201d D\u2019Astous said. \u201cBoth teams are really good and the series is really tight, so it\u2019s fun to be a part of.\u201d<\/p>\n
D\u2019Astous was able to draw back into the lineup for Game 6 and helped Tampa Bay keep the Canadiens off the scoresheet in Friday’s 1-0 overtime victory.<\/p>\n
He played just shy of 19 minutes in time on ice with four shots on goal, also dishing out four hits and blocking a pair of Montreal shot attempts.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just hoping I could get in and help,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was hard to watch sometimes and not being able to help the team. So I was super excited about the last game, and I am for tonight, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Quebec native got to face the team he grew up rooting for while also experiencing the Bell Centre playoff atmosphere for the first time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His mother, Mary-Claude, and brother, Pierre-Antoine, both attended Game 6 in Montreal and \u201cloved\u201d getting to see D\u2019Astous play in the playoffs in person for the first time<\/p>\n
D\u2019Astous mentioned that he might have received a few extra French chirps from fans around the rink, but he didn\u2019t notice too much extra attention in that regard.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was unreal,\u201d he said of playing a playoff game at the Bell Centre. \u201cWe know they have great fans. They’re very loud, and it was fun being that loud. Even if you’re playing against them, it\u2019s fun to have that vibe in the rink, and being a French Canadian makes it even more fun for me. It was just a great experience for me overall.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, he\u2019s about to experience another career first as he seeks to help the Lightning earn a Game 7 victory and series win.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, the stakes are way bigger, but I think it’s just another game and we just have to play our game,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re confident in our game and we know what we have to do. We just have to stick to the game plan.\u201d<\/p>\n