Globesports.com:
TIM WHARNSBY
Globe and Mail Update
April 30, 2008 at 12:40 PM EDT
PHILADELPHIA — Montreal Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau said his starting goalie for tonight’s game knows he will play, but the rest of the hockey world, including his players, will have to wait until game time.
The usual tip off as to who the starting goalie will be is which netminder departs the morning skate first. But, as planned, both Carey Price and his backup Jaroslav Halak left the Wachovia Center ice surface at the same time, hours before the Canadiens take on the Philadelphia Flyers in game four of the second-round series.
“I’ve made my decision and feel strongly about it,” said Carbonneau, who added that he talked to people in organization but “it’s my decision …because I’m the one who’s going to get blamed “
The Canadiens coach said that his starter knows he will be playing, but the rest of the team will be informed later.
“He won’t tell you,” Carbonneau said.
The Canadiens coach also explained his rationale for not naming his starter yesterday because it would have led to “about 600 articles on whether it was a good or bad decision.”
Price has played in every minute of the first 10 playoff games this spring until he was yanked after two periods of Montreal’s 3-2 loss on Monday and replaced by Halak.
Price surrendered three goals on seven shots in the second period.
Veteran Canadiens defenceman Patrice Brisebois will return to the lineup after a two-game absence with a leg injury.
He said that it didn’t matter to the players who would be starting in goal.
“If it’s Carey we’ll back him up,” Brisebois said. “If it’s Jaro, it’s the same thing.”
Brisebois, like many who have observed the second-round series in which the Flyers lead 2-1, believes the Canadiens need to get a lead and start burying more of their chances.
The only lead Montreal has enjoyed in this series was when Tom Kostopoulos scored in overtime of the series opener and in the past two games the Canadiens only have four goals on a combined 38 scoring chances and 70 shots on goal.
Flyers goalie Martin Biron has been in good form.
“Biron has been excellent for them,” Carbonneau said.
The Flyers will have one lineup change. Forward Mike Knuble will return after he missed five games with a hamstring injury and will replace Steve Downie.