Silver linings at end of a dark year
Back-to-back 20-goal seasons for Byron; Price passes Plante for games as a Hab
There haven’t been many feelgood moments around the Canadiens this season, but there were a couple Tuesday night as the curtain came down on the Bell Centre schedule with Montreal dropping a 5-4 decision in overtime to the Winnipeg Jets.
For starters, Paul Byron scored his 20th goal early in the third period to keep the Canadiens’ hopes alive. Montreal scored three goals in the third period to force overtime after falling behind 3-0 in the second period.
“The first period was a little tough,” Byron said. “We gave up a few goals, but the team gave a great effort. When you’re down 3-0, it’s pretty easy to fold the tent, especially with only a couple of games left in the year.”
The goal gave the 28-year-old Byron back-to-back 20-goal seasons — he had 22 last season — and he reflected on how far he has come in the three seasons since the Canadiens claimed him off the waiver wire from Calgary.
“It’s been a tough year, but on a positive note, it’s always good when things go your way,” Byron said.
“You’re doing what you can to help the team. I started the year on the fourth line and worked my way up. I showed again that they can slot me anywhere at any time. The coach knows that. He’s given me an opportunity and I’m grateful for it.”
Byron spent most of the season playing with Brendan Gallagher and they have emerged as the team’s top two goal scorers — Gallagher has 30 — and there’s an irony there because they played a lot with Tomas Plekanec on what was designed to be a defensive line.
“I can’t say enough about Brendan, what he’s done, the effort, what he does for this team dayin and day-out,” Byron said. “It’s unbelievable. He’s so easy to play with. We’ve had a lot of tough assignments, but it’s a great learning experience and it’s a role we can both excel in. We can get pucks back and drive the play.”
Byron was at a crossroads in 2015 when the Flames placed him on waivers after an injury-plagued season.
“I’ve come a long way from where I was a few years ago,” Byron said. “I couldn’t have done it without the opportunity I was given here in Montreal, from management picking me up off waivers, from Mike (Michel Therrien) giving me a chance to play up and down the lineup and Claude (Julien) coming in and giving me the same opportunity to play with good players. They trust me.”
Byron also acknowledged the support of his family.
“They’re the ones at home, grinding away every day without me, (when we’re on) long road trips,” Byron said. “I’m happy having them by my side.”
The other feel-good moment came in the first period when the crowd gave goaltender Carey Price an ovation after it was announced he was playing in his 557th game, moving past Jacques Plante for the most games by a Canadiens goaltender. He was featured on a video which included congratulations from a tanned Patrick Roy and Ken Dryden.
“It was definitely an emotional moment for myself ... I didn’t expect it to be,” Price said.
“That video and that ovation was something that I really needed because it’s really … I’m really thankful and really appreciate that.” Price said he had trouble hearing the messages, “but I had the pleasure of meeting those two guys and it means a lot tome that they took the time to send me a message.”