You'd think a 7-2 loss in game one of the conference finals would be the primary concern for the Montreal Canadiens, but Carey Price's eligibility for game two ranks much higher on the list.
Price's right knee seems to have absorbed most of the damage caused by Chris Kreider's crease crash in yesterday's second period, and his reaction on the two goals the Rangers managed in the final minute of the frame seemed to indicate some labouring after it was obvious the collision caused some pain.
That said, Price did finish the period, and had there been structural damage done, it's hard to believe he'd be sitting on the bench for the third.
He wasn't, however, present at today's optional practice for the Canadiens, having taken a few minutes along with goaltending coach Stephane Waite to test his lateral mobility. Michel Therrien classified it as a therapy day, adding that he hoped Price would be able to play.
Alain Vigneault indicated that the Rangers are certainly preparing with the expectation that Price will be between the posts for game two. Montreal fans are praying for that to be the case and cringing about the possibility of it not being so, nevermind long-term consequences.
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1) There wasn't much positive to take out of game one for Montreal. The only thing that could've gone worse would've have been P.K. Subban joining Price on the sidelines.
The Canadiens uncharacteristically lacked focus on the game's opening goals. Andrei Markov and Alexei Emelin were picked apart on the first one, and Josh Gorges and Subban were victimized on the second. After battling back in the second period to make it 2-1, the quick strikes from New York turned the Canadiens upside down. They allowed New York's powerplay to get going in the third period--a failing one through the first two rounds, working smoothly in Montreal, and Rick Nash found the back of the net for the first time in these playoffs.
The Canadiens are obviously angling towards the idea that this may be the wakeup call they needed to refocus them after their highly taxing, emotionally draining series with the Boston Bruins.
2) To suggest the loss for the Habs was on the matinee start and the emotional let down of not having a deep-seeded rivalry with the Rangers is oversimplification.
The Rangers came out with great speed and capitalized very quickly on their chances. They were well-prepared and extremely smart in the way they managed the puck.
They effectively chipped pucks to the sides of the Montreal end--as opposed to the corners--and stretched out the defensemen in a way the Bruins hadn't. This is one tactic in particular that the Canadiens will have to find a way to counter.
The Canadiens' execution was poor, it was disjointed, it was stale. They weren't mentally in the game the way they should've been, and to suggest the emotional dip was to be expected is acceptable, but it's hard to imagine the motivation of pushing to the Stanley Cup Finals wasn't enough for them to overcome that.
3) Carey Price may play tomorrow. He may not. No point in speculating at this point.
Hard to imagine Alex Galchenyuk won't play. So the question is, who does he sub in for?
My money would be on Michael Bournival, and that's certainly not a knock on how Bournival played game one. I think Rene Bourque would've been an easy bet, and his three penalties yesterday could very well have him sitting Monday. But Bourque did score one of the two goals that got by Lundqvist in game one.
4) For 18:00 of the second period, the only answer New York had for Montreal's push was Lundqvist. I mentioned there wasn't much positive to take out of game one for the Habs, but if there was some, this was it.
5) Hard to suggest that Ryan McDonagh wasn't the best player on the ice for game one, but when Derick Brassard went down in the first period, Dominic Moore stepped in and was a factor on all of his shifts. He got in on the act more than once, and he was tough to handle in the faceoff circle too.