Less Practice Is Best for Nordiques

Practice makes perfect, but less practice is the best.

That adage has propelled the Quebec Nordiques into first place in the Adams Division of the National Hockey League.

“It started in the second half of last year when I gave lots of days off to veterans like Peter Stastny and Pat Price,” Nordique Coach Michel Bergeron said. “I don’t think players who play 22 or 23 minutes a game need to practice very much. They’re not going to improve.”

Stastny, a center, never practices with the team. Neither does the goalie who played in the previous game nor other select players who Bergeron feels played well in the previous game.

For those who do practice, the exercises are considerably shorter than other NHL teams’.

Forward John Anderson said he has noticed the difference since being traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the off-season.

Toronto practiced 1 1/2 hours on days between games. The Montreal Canadiens practice between 1 1/2 and two hours. The Nordiques practice 60 or 70 minutes.

“I don’t hold long practices after losses,” Bergeron said after his team beat Montreal 3-2 last Monday to extend their unbeaten streak to seven games.

“I know a lot of coaches hold hard, two-hour practices after losses. But not for me, not anymore. Let’s face it. You’re draining their energy.”

The Nordiques did not practice last Monday, hours before they beat Montreal. The Canadiens held a 75-minute session.

The following day, the Canadiens practiced for two hours. The Nordiques skipped practice and held a one-hour training session at a health club.

Anderson, for one, likes the format.

“It’s great here,” the 10-year NHL veteran said. “Practices here are shorter and more high tempo. They treat the players well.”

The Nordiques also boast one of the most modern playing facilities in the NHL. The Colisee in Quebec has more spacious dressing quarters than most NHL teams. There is a recreation room with pool tables, dart boards and ping-pong.

The less-practice, more-fun routine seems to agree with the Nordiques. They went into the game against the New York Islanders Thursday looking to equal the NHL record for most consecutive wins from the start of a season -- eight.

Stastny attributes the Nordiques’ fast start to the change in the practice routine.

“We have much more energy for the games because we don’t skate so much in practice,” he said. “When you have three or four games in a week, you get tired. It’s hard to keep your energy level up for a 60-minute game when you’ve practiced hard.”

Team captain Mario Marois said the practices are also scheduled at more convenient times.

“If we return from an away game in the middle of the night, Bergeron might schedule a practice for the following afternoon,” the defenseman said. “Last year, it would have been in the morning.”

After eight games last year, Quebec was in last place in the division and Montreal was in first place. Montreal eventually finished first, three points ahead of second-place Quebec.

The division is tougher this year because of the improved Hartford Whalers, so a fast start is even more important than it was last year.

“You have to be lucky and get a good start to finish in first place,” Nordiques’ defenseman Pat Price said. “We’re more mature and disciplined than last year. We’re playing with more confidence.”

And practicing less.