Blaming Price And Carbonneau? Lame Excuses

May 2, 2008   ·   Brian Sanborn   ·   Jump to comments

As we get closer and closer to the must-have Game 5 for the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre against the Philadelphia Flyers, much of the chatter about Montreal’s woes has been focused on goalie Carey Price and Habs coach Guy Carbonneau, and some bloggers and fans out there suggesting that Guy should be relieved of his duties. Do not expect this to happen Guy haters: No team lets their Jack Adams award or winner go right after that specific season, do they? (Oh wait, Buffalo did that with Ted Nolan in 1997, sorry).

Sure, swapping goalies for Game 4 and inserting little used Jaroslav Halak was a risky move by Guy. Will this surprising move rattle Price? We shall find out, as Price will get the nod in an attempt to send this series back to Philadelphia on Sunday Night.

From my vantage point, the fans of Montreal have put WAY too much pressure and expectation on Price’s shoulders. How many rookie goaltenders do you know have led their team to a Stanley Cup? Perhaps the ‘lucky run’ made by Carolina in 2006, and witnessing goalie Cam Ward lead Carolina to a Stanley Cup set an unrealistic precedence for Price and other starting rookie goaltenders in the playoffs that will follow.  Time will tell on that one.

Carbonneau? When I read someone suggest he should be fired, I could not stop laughing. So Guy turned around a franchise that was spinning its wheels into a 104 point powerhouse in one season, and for that, he should be removed as coach? Please!

Bottom Line: The Canadiens are out shooting the Flyers 142-96 in 4 games so far. And, the Habs are getting players in front of the net and are generating quality scoring chances. The issue here is NOT Price Habs fans, get off your soapbox and recognize the brilliant efforts of Flyers goaltender Martin Biron and Flyers forward R.J.Umberger and realize the truth: The Flyers are just the better team, at least for now.

You want to point the ‘blame’ Montreal fans? Maybe you should point the blame at yourselves, and realize that just because your Original Six franchise has a banner year, it does not automatically mean that you are entitled to a Stanley Cup Championship. The Habs have made great strides this year, and should be a formidable foe for the foreseeable future in the Eastern Conference.

Habs fans need to realize the immense success of this team in 2007-2008 is about just that, TEAM. From Alexei Kovalev to Andrei Kostitsyn, the Habs need to look around that locker room and realize what got them this far: Hard work, solid defense, and dependable goaltending.

And bringing all of these facets together at once will be the ONLY way the Habs can come back and win this series. So put that book of excuses away Habs fans, at least for now.