An excerpt from the Globesports.com article by David Shoalts:

The one question going into the NHL season about the Montreal Canadiens, a consensus pick to win the Eastern Conference, was whether Carey Price could build upon the promise he showed as a rookie.

There were some doubts, since the Canadiens goaltender followed his remarkable 2007-08 regular season (2.56 goals-against average, .920 save percentage) with a mediocre postseason as the Canadiens were upset in the second round of the playoffs by the Philadelphia Flyers.

However, Price shed close to 30 pounds over the summer and assuaged the doubts with a strong showing in the preseason.

He took another step forward last night in the Canadiens’ season opener, even though the Buffalo Sabres won 2-1 in a shootout. Though Price gave up two shootout goals, to Ales Kotalik and Drew Stafford to lose a goaltending duel to Ryan Miller of the Sabres, he could still argue he was the best player on a terribly soft and choppy ice surface at HSBC Arena.