There’s a reason why many of Carey Price’s peers consider him to be among the best, if not the best, in the game. Saturday night’s victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins may go down as a textbook reason why.
Perhaps you didn’t see it coming, but the Montreal Canadiens were victorious in the opening game of their play-in series against the Penguins Saturday night, thanks in large part to their starting goaltender who made 39 saves on 41 shots.
Price put in arguably his best effort of the season Saturday night, which included an 18-save first period against a trigger-happy Penguins squad. Pittsburgh held a shot and possession advantage on the Habs and could have buried the seemingly outmatched Habs in the opening frame if it weren’t for the $10-million-dollar man.
Considering how the season has gone, some fans wouldn’t have been surprised, and were likely already resigned, to their “Pens in 3” predictions. This is the same Habs team that lost all its games to the league-worst Detroit Red Wings, after all. But despite Pittsburgh’s early dominance, it wasn’t to be.
“Carey was huge and gave us a chance to come back and adjust ourselves,” Habs head coach Claude Julien said post-game. “The first period is where he allowed us to stay in the game.”
Price held the fort in the first period just long enough to let the Canadiens score on the team’s third shot (it won’t be Jesperi Kotkaniemi’s prettiest goal, but it counted). The video above features two of Evgeni Malkin’s eight shots on goal, and the Russian couldn’t get any past a netminder who turns 33 in two weeks’ time.
Here’s another stop on Malkin, just for good measure.
This isn’t to pick on the Russian superstar, but the Canadiens have their hands full with Sidney Crosby enough as it is. Needless to say (but why not let it be said?), Price stymying Malkin on numerous occasions played a huge role in the victory.
Price did allow two goals in the contest, including one from Crosby. Both of them came in the second period and the Penguins erased a 2-0 advantage. The two goals, however, could be blamed more on defensive miscues than Price’s ineptitude.
More importantly, the goaltender continued to look steady in the net the whole way through. He and his defence were able to kill penalties, with their opponents only able to muster one goal on seven chances with an extra man.
The B.C. native also came up huge in the third period when tasked with stopping Conor Sheary on a breakaway that was soon followed up by a penalty shot.
Sheary couldn’t even hit the net on the ensuing penalty shot, seeing nothing but blocker where he was looking to shoot, which only made Price’s night easier. Of course, Price could breathe a sigh of relief once Jeff Petry’s overtime winner beat Pittsburgh’s Matt Murray and secured a series-opening victory.
If Montreal wants to finish the job against the Pittsburgh, similarly to their last playoff meeting a decade ago, goaltending will have to make the difference.
For one night, at least, Price showed he was the better goalie and proved the peers who’ve voted for him in players’ association polls many a time right.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
