Alexander Radulov’s postseason legacy seemed set.
Before this season — before becoming the most dominant player in the Canadiens’ first-round playoff series against the Rangers — Radulov skated in the shadows of Russia for most of the past nine years, only playing nine games in the NHL since 2008.
But in his brief second stint in 2012 with the Predators, Radulov made the mistake his time in the NHL would be best remembered by.
On the night prior to Game 2 of the Predators’ second-round series against Phoenix, Radulov broke curfew and was reportedly out drinking with teammate Andrei Kostitsyn until 5 a.m.
Radulov was suspended by the team, blasted by Nashville’s general manager David Poile for being “selfish,” and didn’t play in Games 3 and 4. After losing the series, Radulov was not re-signed, and returned to Russia.
Even after so many years, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin wondered if he was making a mistake by signing the 30-year-old Radulov to a one-year contract this summer.
“It’s a gamble, for sure,” Bergevin said after the signing. “I did the homework but, at the end of the day, it’s still a gamble.”
The scratch-off ticket is already a winner, even without being fully revealed.
After scoring 54 points during the regular season, Radulov has been at his best in his return to the playoffs, recording five points over the past two games.
In Game 2, Radulov scored the overtime winner. In Game 3, the winger had an assist, and scored one of the best goals of the postseason, fighting off a defender with his body, while beating Henrik Lundqvist for a one-handed insurance goal in the third period.
“He still plays with a lot of energy and passion, the same way he did when he was younger, but he’s matured as he’s gotten older,” said teammate Shea Weber, who also played with Radulov in Nashville. “His work ethic has been the same. He’s always worked hard since I’ve known him.”
Claude Julien has only been with Montreal for two months, but the coach is already impressed by the player who was defined by not prioritizing his team’s success.
“He’s a guy who really cares,” Julien said. “He doesn’t care about anything but winning. He’s hard on himself because he wants to help us win. But he has no issues on or off the ice.”
The postseason once stained Radulov’s reputation, but his playoff legend may just be growing.
“When you get older, you start to realize some things and in the game it’s the same thing,” Radulov said Sunday. “You made a mistake once, and you want to make sure you don’t make it again. That’s the point.”