Price answers call after ‘glaring’ episode

Habs goalie was angry over Friday benching

MONTREAL • The Canadiens’ Carey Price showed again Saturday night in Washington why he’s the best goalie in the world.

Less than 24 hours after getting pulled in a 4-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks at the Bell Centre, Price made 20 saves in a 2-1 victory over the Capitals, improving his record to 17-4-2 with a 1.90 goals-against average and .936 save percentage. It was Price’s 250th career regular season win, joining Jacques Plante (314), Patrick Roy (289) and Ken Dryden (258) as the only Canadiens goalies to reach that milestone.

Price’s goals-against average and save percentage are both better now than they were two seasons ago when he won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player with a 1.96 GAA and .933 save percentage.

After Saturday’s performance, Price showed other reasons why he’s simply the best: his leadership and sense of calm.

“The Stare” became the hottest story in the NHL after Price was pulled in the second period Friday and glared at coach Michel Therrien and/or his teammates on the bench when left the ice after being beaten four times on 18 shots. The Canadiens didn’t show up to start the game and were outshot 15-4 in the first period.

For Canadiens fans, it brought back bad memories of the night in 1995 when Patrick Roy stared down coach Mario Tremblay when he was finally pulled after allowing nine goals in an 11-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

We all know what happened after that.

But Price has a much calmer personality than Roy and poured cold water on “The Stare” story with his performance Saturday and his comments after.

“I was just pissed,” Price told reporters. “I don’t think anybody can blame me in that situation.”

When asked who he was “pissed” at, Price responded: “Myself, everybody.”

As for his relationship with the coaching staff, Price said: “We’re all good. I think we’re all professionals and are able to realize that hockey’s an emotional (sport) and sometimes you’re not going to see eyeto-eye on things, but at the end of the day you show up to work the next day and get the job done again.”

Montreal fans have been able to watch Price grow up both on and off the ice since former Canadiens GM Bob Gainey selected him with the No. 5 pick at the 2005 NHL Draft, then insisted the young goalie was a “thoroughbred” even when he struggled and lost his starting job to Jaroslav Halak. Gainey was right, but unfortunately he didn’t have Stéphane Waite as his goalie coach.

One of the best moves Marc Bergevin has made since becoming GM four years ago was to hire Waite away from the Chicago Blackhawks after he had groomed goalies Antti Niemi (2010) and Corey Crawford (2013) into Stanley Cup champions. some adjustments. But the biggest part is, focus on the right things … game preparation.”

There was a lot of speculation that “The Stare” was aimed directly at Therrien, but Price had more reason to be upset with his teammates who hung him out to dry than his coach, who should have pulled Price after the first period instead of providing video footage of the world’s best goalie having to skate to the bench after getting yanked. That’s footage no NHL goalie wants to see.

Price also lost his cool during a game against the New Jersey Devils this month after he was run over by Kyle Palmieri and none of his teammates came to his defence. Therrien can’t be blamed for that and the coach probably wanted to jump on the ice himself and go after Palmieri. Price took matters into his own hands — or should I say blocker — and started pounding on Palmieri.

Waite had no problem with Price’s reaction.

“I was a little bit surprised but, at the same time, I said that’s good,” Waite said. “Sometimes enough is enough. I agree with that for this time.”

When you have the best goalie in the world on your team, protecting him should be your No. 1 priority — whether you’re a player or a coach.