Carey Price is Priceless with 53 Saves

Even though they lost to the Nashville Predators on Saturday night Montreal Canadiens management must have been exchanging high fives over the dominant performance displayed by their top goalie Carey Price. This 2005 fifth overall Canadiens pick has endured a shaky start that at one point saw the 22 year-old lose his starting job to Jaroslav Halak. For no apparent reason Price who was billed as a future superstar after posting a 2.56 GAA three years ago as a rookie has struggled. The Canadiens might have lost 2-0 to the Predators on Saturday but for one night at least their future superstar goalie showed why he is still highly regarded by management. Price who in 2007 won MVP honours after leading the Hamilton Bulldogs to the AHL Calder Cup tied a Canadiens franchise record on Saturday in stopping 53 Nashville shots. When the final buzzer sounded Price went into the record books as having tied Wayne Thomas who back on March 10, 1974 made 53 saves in a 5-4 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Still Price would have traded tying the record for the two points. “They threw a lot of pucks at the net tonight,” Price who now has 4 wins on the season said. “Records aside, we were here to get two points, not a record.” Meanwhile Nashville who have won six of their past eight games and sit three points out of a playoff spot also set some franchise records. During the first period Nashville made history by blasting 24 shots on goal. At the final buzzer more history was made with an all time best of 55 shots on goal. “It’s just the mindset, you break down teams’ defence when you put it on net,” Nashville coach Barry Trotz whose team outshot Montreal 55-20 said. “They are scrambling for pucks, they are reaching, and we are being firm in their offensive zone. Scoring both goals for the Predators was veteran forward Steve Sullivan and getting the shutout was Pekka Rinne. “The guys on defence did a great job, I didn’t have to face too many shots,” Rinne who has now won six of his past seven starts said. “Obviously you have your good saves and your moments, but it was one of the easier games that we have had this year so far.”