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Canadiens Carey Price Really Is as Good as His Peers Say!

Carey Price and his Montreal Canadiens just eliminated the mighty Pittsburgh Penguins in the play-in round. Is Price the best NHL goalie?

Carey Price and his Montreal Canadiens just eliminated the mighty Pittsburgh Penguins five minutes ago. This post was written during this final game of the Canadiens and Penguins play-in contest.

Only six weeks ago, at the end of May, Price was named as the best goalie in the NHL by his peers. And he won by a landslide really when you look at the percentage of votes he garnered – shown below.

Prior to the play-in rounds, there were even rumors that some NHL teams argued against having the eight teams on the bubble make postseason play simply because they didn’t want to face a 32-year-old future Hall of Famer in Carey Price. I wonder if the Pittsburgh Penguins were one of those teams.

Those who argued against having the Canadiens in the play-in round guessed rightly that, during a short, five-game series, Price had the ability to rise up and simply stone a team. And here we are.

Related: Might the Montreal Canadiens Carey Price Say No to Postseason Play?

Which Carey Price Will Show Up?

Price’s reputation is that he has that ability; however, he hadn’t shown that during the regular season’s play. In fact, although he was judged to be the best goalie by his peers, that came after what has to be called a bit of a blah season by Price. During his 58 games with the Habs this season, Price’s record was 27-25-6, with a .909 save percentage and a goals-against-average of 2.79. In short, he’s done better.

However, that lots better also includes during his last playoffs in 2017, where he had a save percentage of .933 and his goals-against-average of 1.86. That’s much better and shows what he’s capable of doing.

Even before the postseason play, it wasn’t seen as very complicated. If Price could stand on his head and post stats similar to those he posted during the 2017 postseason, the mighty Penguins better watch out.

Related: Canadiens Upset Penguins In Game 4, Will Move Onto To Playoffs

No Doubt About It, Carey Price is Good

Few hockey pundits or fans are arguing that Price isn’t currently one of the NHL’s best goalies right this minute. And, I’m not even waiting to see how the teams do in the Penguin’s must-win Game 4. As the time ticks down in the third period (there’s currently 15 minutes left in a 0-0 tie), it’s obious that Price has his mojo back. He began the game with a save percentage of .937 and – after safely turning away 16 shots as I write during the game – he’s standing tall in net for the team.

Now here’s my point: Price is in peak form in this short series because he’s rested. His regular-season numbers were so-so because he wasn’t rested. He simply carries too much of the load during the regular season.

Can you imagine what Price might be capable of if had an adequate back up during the season? His regular-season stats have been below-average for him during the last three seasons, but – as he’s shown – that doesn’t mean he isn’t still great. He is.

Find Price a Solid Backup Goalie, and Play that Goalie More

If the biggest factor in Price’s game might be rest, then the organization needs to find him a partner in goal that allows him to rest more. Season after season, it seems as if Price carries more of his team’s load in goal that almost any other NHL starter. (By the way, there’s nine minutes left in a 0-0 tie.)

Few goalies have had more starts or faced more shots than Price over the past four years than Price. None are older than Price is. In 2019–20, Price played more minutes than any other goalie. But after four months off, he’s back.

Related: How Long Before Max Domi Wants Out of Montreal?

So, What’s the Answer?

The Canadiens simply need to limit Price’s regular-season workload. If it seems obvious to me, then the Canadiens organization must see it as well.

By the way, there’s six minutes left in regulation and Price hasn’t given up a goal. No matter what happens – even if he lets in one each minute until the game’s over, he’s still great!

By the way, he shut them out!

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