Montreal 3 Boston 1 (TD Garden )
MONTREAL, QC.– What can be said about Carey Price this season? Frankly, not enough.
It cannot be overstated the enormous task that Price faced before the season began. He was under immense pressure to prove that he belonged in Montreal. He has easily surpassed that milestone and reminded the hockey world that he is one of the best young goaltenders in the NHL.
Game in and out, Tomas Plekanec, Jeff Halpern and Andrei Kostitsyn are the skaters who have been propelling the Canadiens to their excellent start. But it’s Price who has taken the reins of this team and provided an opprotunity for the Habs to win every night.
Some are speaking about Price’s success in transformational terms. It’s not that complicated nor dramatic. Sure he has made minor teaks to his technique like trying to be more forward on his skates. He has learned how to play the media game, and he is stopped worrying how irrational fans behave.
But the most significant difference is that he now has the support of his coach. Last year, it was the confidence-zapping ‘Win-and-you’re-in’ system to decide goaltending starts. This year that responsibility has been removed from the bailiwick of Jacques Martin with GM Pierre Gauthier choosing Alex Auld as a true backup .
Price has been allowed to play to his strengths and he has done so with a degree of swagger.
Despite what some would have you believe, Price didn’t have a bad season last year. He won the Molson Cup in October and November but was let down by a lack of goal support as the year progressed.
Sure there are a handful of Price-haters left. They continue to be emboldened by media hacks who carefully screen to feature them. But pay no attention as they foolishly cling to a message that has long since ceased to be credible.
One radio host, still bitter about backing the wrong horse, even had the gaul to dissect Price’s play on the lone Boston goal. He said that Price had “lost his net” and needed a strong game to redeem himself for giving up a “banana.” It’s mindless nonsense, and completely contrary to comments from anyone who has actually played the position.
By the way, to find a culprit for the goal, look no further than Andrei Markov being tentative against Milan Lucic and the Canadiens chasing in their own end. In the game, Tukka Rask had more shots to deal with, but Price had to save the more difficult chances. A TSN graphic illustrated the point, showing that Boston’s chances were from close in whereas the Canadiens’ came from the perimeter.
All that being said, Price cannot continue to carry the Canadiens all alone. Balanced, consistent five-on-five offense is required from the two top lines. In addition, the coaching staff have to continue to work with the power-play to get it back to a top ten standing in the NHL.
The Habs will require a team effort to have a successful season. Coach Martin has chosen a group of veterans, including Gionta, Markov, Gill, Plekanec, Gomez and Gorges to provide guidance and stability. But make no mistake, the Canadiens young, number one netminder is a key pillar of the leadership of this team.
Ten Things You Should Know:
- Carey Price had a .985 save percentage in two games against teams projected to be contenders. He is now 10-2-2 vs. the Bruins in his career.
- Montreal is the only team in the league who have not given up more than three goals in regulation time.
- The Habs have started the season as road warriors with a 6-2 record.
- Oddly, Tom Pyatt led the team with six shots on goal in the game.
- P.K. Subban scored his first regular-season goal in the NHL. He also has six assists this season.
- Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez scored in the same contest for the first time in 32 games.
- It was the first time since February 13, 2010 that the Habs scored two or more power-play goals in a game.
- Lars Eller got in the face of Zdeno Chara. Something tells me we will see him unafraid to challenge the Boston defenseman again. It was also Eller’s first time as a penalty-killer. It certainly won’t be his last special teams’ assignment.
- Boston’s top-ranked penalty kill unit allowed multiple power-play goals for the first time this season against the lowly Habs power-play.
- The Habs are 8-0-1 when scoring first.
The next four games for the Canadiens are all at home with the Carolina Hurricanes providing the first test on Saturday night.
All Habs game stars:
1. Carey Price
2. Mike Cammalleri
3. P.K. Subban
Roster notes:
Dustin Boyd and Alexandre Picard were healthy scratches.
(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)