Carey Price’s success vs. Canucks didn’t come easily
Dressing-room stall paid the price after Habs goalie didn’t get to start 2009 game
Carey Price has enjoyed a fair measure of success against the Vancouver Canucks.
Going into Tuesday night’s game at Rogers Arena, Price had an 8-2-2 record against the Canucks with a 2.14 goals-against average.
But it’s safe to say the goaltender would prefer to forget his first two experiences in the arena, known then as General Motors Place.
Price, who grew up in Anahim Lake, a rural community in the interior of British Columbia, was excited about returning to his home province for a game against the Canucks on Feb. 15, 2009.
But coach Guy Carbonneau had a different idea.
While it’s not unusual for a coach to give a player the opportunity to showcase his talents for a hometown crowd, the Canadiens were battling for a playoff spot and Price, who had been anointed as the No. 1 goaltender in his second professional season, was not playing well.
He had lost his previous three starts and had only two wins in nine games. Carbonneau felt his best chance to win was to start Jaroslav Halak.
The decision didn’t go over well with Price. While the details were a little sketchy, there was a large hole in the freshly painted drywall in Price’s stall in the visitors’ dressing room and the Canadiens later received a bill for the repairs.
There was one report that Price put his fist through the wall, but it was more likely that the damage was inflicted by a stick.
Things didn’t go well for the Canadiens that night. Price did get to play, but it was in a mop-up role after Halak gave up four goals in a 4-2 loss.
Price played the final eight minutes of the game and stopped the only shot he faced.
Despite that defeat, Halak got another chance to start against the Canucks when the teams met nine days later at the Bell Centre. The Slovak netminder was in top form that night as he made 34 saves in a 3-0 victory.
The roles were reversed on Price’s second visit to Vancouver on Oct. 7, 2009.
Coach Jacques Martin gave Price the start, but he gave up seven goals on 33 shots. This time it was Halak who played the final eight minutes. The defeat was the start of a sixgame losing streak for Price, who would eventually lose his No. 1 spot to Halak.
Tuesday night’s game was the first of three in Western Canada and Price said the team was hoping to bank some much-needed points going into their brief Christmas break.
But the task wouldn’t be easy because the Canadiens went into the game with a 1-3-1 record in their last five games and they are missing defenceman Shea Weber, who is out indefinitely with a foot injury. He flew home to Montreal on Monday to be examined by the Canadiens’ doctors.
Weber’s injury stems from a blocked shot earlier this season and Price said he had “mixed emotions” about the risks associated with blocking shots.
“It’s part of hockey, it’s part of the game,” Price said.
“Guys get hurt doing it, but it’s a necessity if you’re going to win. It helps me, especially if I don’t see the puck. If he’s standing there in the shot lane, I’m really hoping he can block it.”
Price described Weber as a “huge part of our hockey team and we’re going to miss him, but this is a time we have to be resilient.”
The western trip continues with games in Calgary Friday and Edmonton Saturday.