MONTREAL– It’s a rare night in Montreal when Carey Price provides the highlight of a game by doing something other than stopping the puck.
On Thursday, as part of Montreal’s 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils, that was the case.
Price made several quality saves out of the 19 pucks he turned aside, but his response to Devils forward Kyle Palmieri crashing into him at full speed with 18 seconds remaining in the first period was a moment to remember.
“I got fired up, I guess,” said Price.
That’s one way of putting it.
As Palmieri lay on the ice, practically frozen in disbelief, Price wailed away at him with his blocker. The goaltender got four quality shots in before Devils forward Mike Cammalleri yanked him down by the collar.
Price then came up swinging.
As Canadiens defenceman Nathan Beaulieu said after the game, “He’s obviously going to be targeted. I mean, he’s the best player in the world.”
And if you can put yourself in Price’s skates for just an instant, you can easily empathize with why he lost his cool.
It was in Game 1 of the 2014 Eastern Conference final that Price was steamrolled by New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider — a collision that knocked him out of the post-season with a knee injury.
Then Price missed 70 games with two separate knee injuries last season.
He’s been run multiple times so far this year, and was pushed over by forward Adam Henrique on New Jersey’s first goal, which was scored three minutes and 23 seconds before Palmieri crashed into that oft-injured right knee.
The Canadiens challenged Henrique’s goal, but the call stood.
Canadiens coach Michel Therrien said after the game he was not at all in agreement, but Price shockingly was.
“I think it was a good goal,” he said. “But I also think there should’ve been a goalie interference call after the fact.”
That’s what Price said provoked him to tee off on Palmieri.
He was asked afterwards if he understood the potential ramifications of his actions on the play, but shrugged his shoulders and responded, “No.”
The NHL rulebook states that a goaltender who uses his blocker to punch an opposing player can be assessed an intent-to-injure penalty resulting in automatic ejection from the game. And had Palmieri been injured, it would’ve resulted in an ejection for Price and a suspension pending further review.
Instead Price was assessed two separate roughing minors on the play; one for hitting Palmieri with his blocker, and one for punching away with his bare fists after Cammalleri intervened.
“It seems to be the nature of the league,” said Price. “Go to the net, run the goalie over and score a goal.”
The Canadiens did not have to resort to such measures to put five on the board in this one.
It was an impressive performance from Montreal, especially when you consider the circumstances.
In the team’s first game back from a strenuous road-trip — and without centres Alex Galchenyuk and David Desharnais — they outshot the Devils 49-21, won 57 per cent of the faceoffs and forced 13 giveaways with stalwart defensive play.
Two goals came from fourth-line centre Torrey Mitchell, who now has seven on the year, while third-line centre Phillip Danault fought illness and a fever to score a goal and an assist.
“I felt okay after my six-hour nap today,” Danault said with a laugh.
That’s character — and this was a character-win for the Canadiens, highlighted by Price’s outburst.
“I loved it,” said Beaulieu. “Pricey’s a very calm individual, but he also has that fiery side; that competitive side. I feel like goalies are entitled to hold their ground, and it doesn’t necessarily always have to be guys responding up front. He’s a man, he can take it upon himself and I know he likes to do it.
“It was nice to see a lot of emotion out of him because, you know, he’s probably our biggest leader.”
It turns out Price’s leadership comes in many forms.
