CANADIENS
Montreal

RANGERS
New York

Game Notes:

United we stand. Three arenas, the Bell Centre, Air Canada Centre and Canadian Tire Centre were linked for the anthems and somehow a country was united. The effect was moving.

Was there ever any doubt? Former Canadiens GM Bob Gainey called Carey Price a “thoroughbred.” If anything, it was an understatement. Right now, there is simply no one better at his position.  Price’s repertoire is comprehensive: making the hard saves look easy, controlling rebounds, slowing the pace of the game, intimidating shooters and clearing the zone. Oh, and being one of the trusted leaders on this team.

Unlikely pairs. How often do you see a 2-on-zero? Shorthanded? For the team that has only scored first once before Saturday’s game, it didn’t matter how it happened, just that it did. Tomas Plekanec and Max Pacioretty dazzled with four passes before burying the opening goal.  Pacioretty and Dale Weise combined for the insurance marker. Weise and Lars Eller team up for the game-winning goal.  Given the way the season began, those are three unlikely pairs.

Unafraid. There was a feeling during the 2012-’13 season that the Canadiens were easily-intimidated. So much so that GM Marc Bergevin made the ill-advised move of acquiring aging fighter George Parros. Questions were raised during training camp whether an enforcer should be added. So far, the answer is no. Brandon Prust has not figured prominently so far this season. He hasn’t played poorly, he’s just been quiet. On Saturday he made his presence felt fighting Rangers defenceman Kevin Klein.

Most ice-time? If you think that you are safe guessing Andrei Markov or P.K. Subban to that question, guess again. Last game the honours went to Tom Gilbert. Against the Rangers, it was Alexei Emelin.  Playing a shade over 26 minutes, Emelin was a plus-2 while blocking three shots and dishing out three hits.

It’s still 2014-’15. Comparisons last week to the 1977-’78 team were silly.  After this win, the 1961-’62 squad was rolled out as the yardstick. That team included Jacques Plante.  The Canadiens have not had a better start to the season then.  But let’s not get carried away. Enjoy the success but we are not yet through one-tenth of the season.

Plus / Minus

▲   Carey Price, Tomas Plekanec, Max Pacioretty, Dale Weise, Lars Eller, Alexei Emelin, Andrei Markov

▼   Mike Weaver

1.  Carey Price  MTL 
2.  Lars Eller  MTL
3.  Anthony Duclair  NYR

Coach Michel Therrien

• “[Carey Price] is playing like one of the top goalies in the league. And tonight was no different. He’s calm. He’s a good leader for us. He gives us the confidence to attack every game with a chance to win.”
• “We’ve got a group of guys that always wants to get better. They’ve got exemplary work ethic. It’s been there since training camp. It’s a group that wants to improve and wants to work. They’re not scared of any challenge. They deserve their success because of their motivation to perform.”

Max Pacioretty

• “[Carey Price] is playing unbelievably. When you see him lead the way like that, it obviously gives us confidence and gives us motivation. It seems like we’ve been talking about the same thing for at least two years. It really is an honour to have a guy like that kicking for you.”

Lars Eller

• “He’s playing like Carey Price. He spreads confidence to the defenders. He makes it look really easy. We’re fortunate to have him back there.”
• “I don’t think we should put too much into it. It’s not like we’re the best Habs team in 50 years, but we do have a really good feeling within this room. It’s a hungry group and at the same time it’s a humble group, and the encouraging thing is that I think we’re getting better and better. The four games we played at home here are probably the four best games we played this year, and there’s still room for improvement, but things right now are looking very good.”

Carey Price

• “We’re a confident hockey club, we enjoy putting the work in, and we stick up for each other. We’re not trying to do anything special, we’re just trying to have fun and get the job done.”

Rangers defenceman Ryan McDonagh

• “It was very unfortunate with the power play when you don’t get anything going there and we obviously give up one on the bad decision by myself. You can’t allow yourself to start a game like that on the road. Two power plays and you don’t generate much and you give up one.”

Rangers coach Alain Vigneault

• “We had a push in the third, but obviously it wasn’t good enough. We weren’t good enough in front of their net. We just couldn’t capitalize on those second chances in front of Price.”