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Idiots Blame Price for Last-Minute Collapse at HSBC |
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It was Mike Cammalleri. It was Ryan O’Byrne. It was Andrei Markov. It was definitely Jacques Martin. There was plenty of blame to go around as the Canadiens blew a two–goal lead with less than 3 minutes remaining in a game they had completely dominated to that point. The fans (and some members of the media), so enraged with this shocking turn of events, scrambled to point fingers because the results of last night’s game were unacceptable.
Just so I got things straight…there actually were morons who blamed Price for last night’s game. As if his 40-save performance wasn’t good enough to get the Canadiens past the Sabres in regulation. I understand the arguments about Jacques Martin not using a timeout, about his team taking 5-straight penalties, about sitting on a 2-goal lead…but blame Carey Price? Stupidity!
The Canadiens have essentially lost two of their last three, picking up 2 points over that stretch. The world isn’t ending. No team should drop a 2-goal lead with so little time remaining in a game, but it happened, and it certainly wasn’t the first time nor will it be the last. Had they held on, we’d be talking about one of the most complete road-games they’ve played all year.
Instead the playoffs are in question, people are expecting a letdown of monumental proportion at the Bell Centre tonight, and no one’s hesitating to call this team a bad one for losing in such a fashion, at this stage in the season.
Sometimes the bounces don’t go your way. Sometimes a team hangs around long enough to turn it on in the dying minutes and make things interesting. A solid combination of luck and determination allows a team to mount such a comeback in the waning moments of a hockey game. The Sabres were lucky not to be buried after two periods. They were lucky to be in a position to pull their goalie while on the powerplay—with ample time to put the game within reach and fight for it in the final two minutes. They were opportunistic in finding the back of the net, with caution thrown to the wind as Ryan Miller watched from the bench.
Speaking of Ryan Miller; that was another miracle-performance. The saves he made in the second period, while his team paraded to the box, were other worldly. That was not the same Canadiens powerplay that’s fumbled through their last 8-9 games. That was a powerplay that got some very good looks at goals. They managed one, and that was one of eleven the Sabres have allowed on home-ice this season. If they get as many opportunities against the Panthers tonight, they’ll run away with 2 points, clean and easy.
No one likes to lose in that manner. And when you lose, blame will be assigned. But while the fanbase and media give the Habs what they deserve, the players have to remember all that was good about last night’s game, and move on from what was obviously bad.
As for Carey Price, you can rest assured that every man in that lockerroom apologized and reassured him that he was not to blame for last night’s improbable outcome. And Price deserves the consolation. As for those who care to complain about his emotional outburst in smashing his stick to pieces after Tomas Vanek sealed the game, how can you not sympathize with him? Price went from potentially taking a guaranteed start from Halak in tonight’s game, to knowing he’d be riding the pine for the next few games if Vanek scored that goal. Those are the unfortunate and sometimes unfair breaks you get in a hockey game.
Price should look back at this one and be proud of the way he played. And the Canadiens should remember all the good things they did in controlling yesterday’s game, and they should employ the same plan against Florida tonight. If they do, the outcome will turn in their favor, and the fanbase can rejoice over gaining 3 out of 4 points in a back-to-back situation.
Nearly three weeks ago, the Canadiens were in the midst of playing their best hockey. They took a game from the Anaheim Ducks, trailing by three after the first period. The Sabres came home to HSBC last night, after reeling off three straight wins. That they found a way to continue on that path against the Canadiens, is hardly surprising. Scant few of you were comfortable with the 2-goal lead the Canadiens opened up heading into the third period. You knew that Tom Pyatt needed to score on that glorious chance, and if he didn’t, Plekanec needed to on an identical play. What was unexpected was the fact that the Sabres were unable to generate much of an attack through the first 17 minutes of a nervous third period played by the Canadiens. That’s hockey…
And it’ll be played again tonight. The results will be completely different. And it seems doubtful any blame will be assigned to Carey Price…though if it could be…
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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