Richardson takes over as head coach Montreal defeated the Vegas Golden Cavaliers 3-2 on Friday After Dominique Ducharme tested positive for COVID-19 a few hours before the third game. At the moment after winning, he made sure to tap and kiss the reminder on his chest.

“It feels like a long time ago,” Richardson said of Darren’s death on Saturday. “But sometimes it feels like yesterday.

“I just think this is the best time to pay tribute to her.”

The 52-year-old man wears a pin before each game to commemorate the Do It for Daron movement and its focus on youth’s mental health through the Royal Ottawa Hospital after the death of his daughter.

“We need to have important discussions,” said Richardson, who served as an assistant coach for the Ottawa Senators from 2009 to 2012. “This is not an easy conversation, but we are proud of what the organization has done.

“Darren is always in my heart, in our heart.”

Friday’s victory was his first victory as an NHL head coach, giving the Canadians a 2-1 lead over the Golden Cavaliers in the semifinals of 7 games and 7 wins.

Watch | The Canadians lead the Golden Cavaliers 2-1:

With Ducham out, Richardson, with the help of assistants Alexander Burrows and Sean Burke, did not miss a beat as the Canadians recovered from a difficult start-they were 30- in two periods. A lead of 8-to maintain home field advantage before Sunday’s game Game 4.

“It’s very inspiring,” Montreal second-year center Nick Suzuki said of Richardson’s journey. “He is a great coach for me. I have learned a lot.”

As a scarred defensive player, Richardson is a veteran of nearly 1,500 NHL games in his seventh season as an NHL assistant. He also spent four years in charge of Senator Binghamton of AHL.

Late Friday, Richardson and his wife Stephanie raised their glasses to Darren, but the couple’s other daughter, Morgan, a high school teacher in Boston, was unable to be there due to border restrictions due to the pandemic.

“We are proud of these two girls,” Richardson said. “Darren and Morgan in our hearts, we are also thinking about her, because we can’t be here. Stephanie and I enjoyed this night and put it all into it.

“This is absolutely special.”

Watch | After testing positive for COVID-19, Canadian coach Ducharme was quarantined:

At the height of the playoffs, the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, Dominique Ducharme, missed the game after testing positive for COVID-19, which raised concerns about the risks he posed to the team as a whole. question. 2:00

Ducham’s identity is still unclear

Richardson did not have the latest news on when to allow Ducharm to return to the bench, but just in accordance with NHL and Quebec government regulations, it seems unlikely that he will return before the end of the third round.

“He missed being with us,” Richardson said. “We miss having him.”

Watch | After testing positive for COVID-19, Canadian coach Ducharme was quarantined:

Marc-Andre Fleury (Marc-Andre Fleury) played behind the net, but coughed, Josh Anderson buried the gift of the Golden Cavaliers netkeeper, and there were less than two remaining in the game. In the case of minutes to tie the score to 2-2. 1:02

Meanwhile, Canadian center Eric Starr was impressed by Friday’s assistant coach’s performance.

The 36-year-old said: “If Luke is still in that situation for a while, we are satisfied.” “We are all in the same boat.”

Where to get help:

Canadian Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566 (phone) | 45645 (text, only 4pm to midnight EST) Canadian Crisis Services Corporation

In Quebec (French): Quebec Suicide Prevention Association: 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553)

Children’s help phone: 1-800-668-6868 (phone), online chat consultation is at www.kidshelpphone.ca

Canadian Suicide Prevention Association: Find a 24-hour crisis center