Habs News: NHL, Carey Price, David Savard, Paul Byron, Brendan Gallagher, Jeff Petry, Montreal Canadiens, Laval Rocket, Trois-Rivieres Lions

ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA | LAVAL, QC. — On Saturday, the Canadiens and Oilers were featured nationally on CBC as part of Hockey Day in Canada. Viewers across the country saw the Canadiens get humiliated 7-2 in front of an empty building.

“We were down 3-0 off the hop, but I full believe that our whole team had that faith that we could come back in that game. Even in the second too. I mean by the end of the third, it’s tough to play in, and it’s frustrating. We’re all pretty embarrassed about the outcome,” Jake Evans said.

The Habs should consider themselves lucky that no fans were admitted inside the Bell Centre, because if any fan that had spent money to watch the home team, they would be furious. It’s a surprise that the fake crowd noise was not set to boo.

On Sunday, Nick Suzuki opened the scoring in the second minute of the play, before the Canadiens collapsed again. Columbus answered back with four goals in the first period, and went on to win 6-3. Dominique Ducharme replaced the starting goalie for the fourth consecutive match. It’s the first time since 1985 that the Canadiens have allowed 26 or more goals in a four-game stretch.

“Losing is not easy,” Brendan Gallagher said. “It’s frustrating. You want to be able to leave the rink feeling good about yourself, and when you’re losing, you’re searching for solutions and it’s not there. We’re going to keep working, we’re going keep trying to find those solutions.”

The Canadiens head into the All Star break on a six-game losing streak after suffering a 6-3 defeat to Columbus on Sunday night. New Jersey visits the Bell Centre on February 8th.

Price Working to Return

Carey Price met the media for the first time on Sunday since the Stanley Cup final  A lot has happened since that time for the goaltender and the entire team. “I’m doing well. I know it’s been a frustrating time for everybody, and it’s been one for me as well. It’s been a long year,” Price said.

On October 7th, Price voluntarily joined the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program. “It was very difficult. I was in a position where I definitely needed to reach out and it was a trying time for sure. It was one that needed to be made, and ultimately it was successful. I’m very thankful for the help that I got.”

Earlier on Sunday, Price was on the ice in Brossard for 15 minutes in full equipment for the second day in a row. His objective is to return this season, and he will know over the next couple of weeks if he’ll succeed. Price has already had a couple of set backs, but he is ready to put in all the work needed to return.

“It’s a big part of my identity, for one. Being a goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens has been my life for over a decade,” Price answered when asked about his dedication to return. “I just want to get back in there and keep on playing. To be able to put that sweater on again is what’s keeping me motivated at this point.”

Ever since he waived the no-movement clause for the expansion draft, there has been speculation about Price’s future with the organization. Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton need to know Price’s intentions in order to plan the team’s future accordingly.

“Me and my family are very happy here. We’re settled in. This is our home. There’s a reason I signed the contract like I did here with a no-movement clause. It was to be here.  So, as of right now I have no plans to move anywhere,” Price expressed his intentions.

Gallagher Adds His Voice

Canadiens alternate captain Brendan Gallagher spoke about Carey Price following the game on Sunday night.

“Pricey, you know, he’s a warrior,” said Gallagher. “You don’t get to say that about too many goalies in the league, but he’s one tough bugger. I know he wants to come back and play, that goal hasn’t changed for him. Obviously, there’s more to it than just him wanting to be back in the lineup, but he’s not given up on the season, I know that. He wants to be a part of it. They’re going to be smart about it, but he’s working hard to obviously push their hands. If he makes the full recovery and he’s healthy, there’s no reason not to play.”

“I admire so much about him,” added Gallagher. “I feel fortunate that I’ve got to spend 10 years with, in my mind, the best goalie in the league for that decade. He’s been unbelievable and you’re always amazed with what he’s doing, and with his rehab, I’m sure it’s going to be the same way.”

No Response

During Saturday’s game, there was evidence that the roster has given up on the season and on each other. With under five minutes to go in the second period, Zack Kassian delivered a hard hit on Samuel Montembeault as the goalie was behind his own net to play the puck. Montembeault’s mask flew off from the impact.

Not one Canadien player on the ice reacted to the incident. The former Hab appeared to be expecting a visit from a red jersey, but it never came. Referee Brad Meier seemed the most upset about the hit.

Jeff Petry, wearing an ‘A’ on his jersey, graciously skated next to Kassian. “Looking back at it, I didn’t see the actual (hit), I just saw [Montembeault] going down.”

“Looking back at it, I didn’t see the actual (hit), I just saw Monty going down" – Jeff Petry last night

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/SQciS4Ld3i

— Chris G (@ChrisHabs360) January 30, 2022

“For me, it’s not a place to go and have to fight a guy like that. But looking back and replaying it in my head, you should at least get in his face and have a word with him. I think that’s something that is on me and is on the other guys on the ice too, to stand up for our teammates,” added Petry.

“I want to see five red jerseys go into the corner. I’d never ask one person to fight, but I want to see five reds in the corner,” Ducharme answered when asked about the incident.

The response came in the third period when Michael Pezzetta jumped on Kassian for a fight. Pezzetta clearly lost the fight, but credit to the forward for not backing out from any opponent.

“Obviously what he did was not an easy thing to do, but he did it, and everybody in the locker room sees it and appreciates it,” Tyler Toffoli said about Pezzetta’s response.

Roster Movement

The injury bug continues to hit the Canadiens as the organization announced prior to Saturday’s game that David Savard will miss eight weeks with an injury to right ankle. The ankle was injured when blocking a shot on January 12th in Boston.

Gallagher and Paul Byron returned to action on Sunday. It was Byron’s season debut after undergoing hip surgery during the summer. “There was moments that I didn’t feel in good shape. The game was quick for me. I was behind the play, but it will come back with time. I didn’t get a lot of practice time with the team.”

Joel Armia and Cole Caufield returned to Montreal on Saturday after completing their quarantine in Wisconsin.

With the taxi squad dissolving at the conclusion of Sunday’s game, the Canadiens assigned Lukas Vejdemo and Sami Niku to the Rocket. Niku will report to Laval after the All Star break.

Rocket Split Series

The Rocket were in Texas for the first time in franchise history to face the Stars. On Friday, Tory Dello opened the scoring with his first career AHL goal, before things collapsed for Laval. The Stars scored six unanswered goals in the last 40 minutes, and went on to a 6-1 victory.

“They had two quick goals on the power play that cut our legs a little bit, they went off skates but they made their own luck. They had the puck bounce tonight on their side, and that’s where it went south for us. I thought we had a good start, but couldn’t sustain it,” Jean-Francois Houle said.

Joel Teasdale made his return, after being sidelined with a knee injury suffered in April. “In general, I felt really good. At the beginning, I was struggling with moving my feet, but it didn’t take me a long time to start doing it. I went in the corners, I just played in front of the net, that’s where I get my success,” evaluated the forward.

On Saturday, two power play goals helped Laval gain a 3-2 victory over the Stars. “I think we played a physical game tonight. Our players played hard, they were dedicated to get a win on the road. Guindon in net made some key saves. Our special teams were good,” Houle said.

Louis-Philip Guindon made 26 saves to earn his first career AHL win. “I feel it’s a big family, and they welcomed me mid-year as their brother, and for me it just means a lot that they work hard in front of me, they have confidence me,” said the goalie.

The Rocket continue their road trip with two games in Utica on Wednesday and Friday, before heading to Belleville on Saturday.

Lions Sweep Weekend

The Lions completed their seven game road trip with a pair of games on the weekend. On Saturday, the contest was tied 2-2 after 40 minutes, before Trois-Rivieres scoring four times in the third period to win 6-3 against Adirondack.

“It took us a while to get going, but in the third period we really played our best hockey. There also was some line changes that created energy. We have to play like the third  consistently,” Eric Belanger said.

On Sunday, the Lions blew a 2-0 lead in Maine as the Mariners forced extra time. A winner was not declared in overtime, and in shootout, Cedric Desruisseaux was the only scorer and gave Trois-Rivieres the 3-2 win.

“Trista [Berube] played a good game, but we dominated the game. We deserved to win it. Their goalkeeper made the difference. He kept his team in the game. We had so many chances in the second period, especially on the power play. Yes, they were able to tie the score at the end of the game, but I loved the way we played. Our forecheck was good, as was our defensive play, penalty kill and power play. We played a complete game and everyone contributed,” Belanger said.

Marc-Andre Bergeron completed the franchise’s first trade on Saturday by trading Anthony DeLuca to Kansas City for future considerations. In 10 games with the Lions, Deluca scored once and added six assists.

Trois-Rivieres returns to the Colisee Videotron this week for three games versus Maine on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

(Quotes courtesy of Le Nouvelliste)

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