By Stevo, AllHabs.net
MONTREAL, QC. – It’s amazing how quickly things can change in the NHL. Just ten days ago, the Montreal Canadiens were the laughing stock of the league, for firing assistant coach Perry Pearn, only hours prior to facing the Philadelphia Flyers on home ice. This firing came after the Canadiens started the season with a “cover your face with a paper grocery bag” record of 1-5-2.
To the surprise of many, the Canadiens would go on to win this game by a score of 5-1, and would then go on to beat the Boston Bruins in both games of a home and home series (2-1, 4-2) in the same week.
The Canadiens now sit in the 11th position of the Eastern Conference, two points behind the eight place Buffalo Sabres who have 12 points, and all of a sudden, nobody’s laughing at Montreal, and much of the criticism towards the team, their play, and the coach has vanished.
What a difference a few wins can make.
If we take a look at the goaltending, what exactly has been Carey Price’s role so far this season, with regards to the Montreal Canadiens record? Well, let’s take a look.
| Carey Price |
|
GAME |
VS |
SCORE |
W/L |
SHOTS |
SV% |
GA |
EV SAVES |
PP SAVES |
SH SAVES |
|
1 |
Toronto |
0-2 |
L |
18 |
.889% |
2 |
10/11 |
5/5 |
1/2 |
|
2 |
Winnipeg |
5-1 |
W |
31 |
.968% |
1 |
23/24 |
7/7 |
0/0 |
|
3 |
Calgary |
1-4 |
L |
21 |
.810% |
4 |
13/15 |
3/5 |
1/1 |
|
4 |
Colorado |
5-6 |
OTL |
30 |
.833% |
6 |
20/23 |
2/4 |
3/3 |
|
5 |
Buffalo |
1-3 |
L |
23 |
.909% |
3* |
20/22 |
0/0 |
0/0 |
|
6 |
Pittsburgh |
1-3 |
L |
32 |
.906% |
3 |
26/29 |
3/3 |
0/0 |
|
7 |
Toronto |
4-5 |
OTL |
27 |
.815% |
5 |
16/19 |
5/7 |
1/1 |
|
8 |
Philadelphia |
5-1 |
W |
22 |
.955% |
1 |
19/20 |
2/2 |
0/0 |
|
9 |
Boston |
2-1 |
W |
30 |
.967% |
1 |
27/27 |
2/3 |
0/0 |
|
10 |
Boston |
4-2 |
W |
28 |
.929% |
2 |
23/25 |
2/2 |
1/1 |
* One of the goals was an empty netter.
Season Stats:
- Record: 4-4-2
- Wins: 4 (Tied 13th overall)
- GAA: 2.59 (29th overall)
- Sv%: .900% (31st overall)
Can’t shy from the facts, Carey Price’s early season stats are nothing to be impressed about, although you can’t say he’s been to blame for the team’s early season faults. He wasn’t perfect, but far from responsible for the team’s losses.
What stands out to me the most is that there are really just three of those ten games, which are statistically speaking, awful. Those would be the Calgary, Colorado, and latest of the Toronto games, and in all three cases, the Canadiens gave up two powerplay goals.
This could lead you to believe that the Canadiens have penalty killing issues, currently sitting 17th in the league at 83% efficiency. However this is only 1.4% off last year’s mark of 84.4%, which had the Canadiens finishing 7th overall in the category.
But drill down into the numbers and you will find that the Canadiens are an abysmal 72.0% at home placing them at 25th in the league. They have been much more effective killing penalties on the road where their efficiency is 95.4% (2nd in the NHL)
The powerplay is a whole other story. The Habs are currently 24th in the league with a powerplay percentage of 13.3%, while last year they finished 7th at 19.7%. Keep in mind James Wisniewski was a big help in that regards last season, and this season, Markov…#$%@!
Back to Price, what’s reassuring in his case, besides the fact he played a tremendous role in the Montreal Canadiens last three wins, is just how cool, calm and collected he has been since the start of the season, even through the losses.
“I’m one loss away from putting on a garter belt.” – Carey Price following the 4-5 overtime loss to Toronto.
“I just Bill Bucknered it,” … “Just a mental lapse, for sure. I didn’t want that to be the winning goal. Our guys did good to get it back, and they bailed me out.” – Carey Price after allowing a won faceoff by Plekanec to trickle through his pads and into the net.
Whether it was Price throwing ice at Erik Cole, while he [Cole] was being interviewed on camera, or his garter belt quote after deciding to hang up the pink equipment, or simply his body language on the ice, with a confidence that could be often be perceived as nonchalance, but that’s simply how Carey Price is when he’s at his best.
So for those who are looking with tunnel vision at the stats right now and concerned to see Carey Price not amongst the league’s best, I tell you not to worry. If the Canadiens improve their penalty-killing and tighten up their defensive zone coverage, the abundance of high quality shots that Price has been forced to face on a nightly basis will be reduced.
There’s still much hockey to be played this season, and if the last three games tell us anything, it’s that Carey Price is finding his groove. If he can continue on this path with some consistency, not only will it greatly help the Canadiens’ chances of getting back into the top-8, but you should slowly and surely see Price climb back towards the top of the standings.
He’s got the attitude before it, because if you can come out of the nuclear disaster of a start the Habs had this season, making jokes and laughing on camera, you’ve certainly discovered a way to handle the pressure. Cool guy that Carey Price.
Oh and, Price is undefeated since he ditched the pink equipment. Well ‘wuddaya’ know.