| Last updated at 8:40 AM on 29/04/08 |
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Montreal Canadiens' goalie Carey Price reacts after missing a shot by Philadelphia Flyers' Scottie Upshall in the second period of Game 3 of their NHL Eastern Conference semifinal Monday night in Philadelphia. Price gave up three goals on 12 shots in a 3-2 loss. — Photo by The Associated Press |
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Price check in Aisle 1 
Habs' rookie goalie chased from net as Philly takes 2-1 series lead
PHILADELPHIA
PIERRE LEBRUN
The Canadian Press
Guy Carbonneau spent most of his post-game news conference Monday night protecting rookie goaltender Carey Price.
But the Montreal Canadiens' head coach didn't duck the question that mattered most.
"Do you sense that Carey is a little rattled," came the query in French.
"Well, right now he is, definitely," responded Carbonneau.
So much so that Carbonneau said he wasn't sure who he would start in goal for Game 4 on Wednesday night (CBC, 7 p.m. ET) with the Canadiens essentially in a must-win situation.
"We're going to have to sit down tomorrow and see what's going to happen for the next game," said Carbonneau. "But I know (Price) can come back and play very strongly."
For a second game in a row the Canadiens outplayed, outshot and outchanced Philadelphia, but it's the opportunistic Flyers who escaped with a 3-2 win and a 2-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal.
"We are capable of playing so much better," conceded Flyers head coach John Stevens.
His club still won in large part because Price looked shaky on three wrist shots that broke the game open in the second period. The 20-year-old, who stopped nine of 12 shots, was pulled in favour of Jaroslav Halak to start the third period.
Scottie Upshall, Mike Richards and R.J. Umberger all beat Price in a second period dominated by the Habs in the opening 12 minutes. The Flyers scored two goals on only their first three shots of the period. Two of the goals were on Price's glove side - an area the Flyers have aimed for in this series.
Price did not speak to reporters after the game.
"I think he showed in the first round the way he can bounce back, the way he can regroup," said Montreal captain Saku Koivu.
"You can ask any goaltender, in games where your team is outshooting and outchancing the opponent by a large margin, those aren't easy games for him," continued Koivu. There's no concern about his game at all. It's about the team concept. We have to get better right now."
The Flyers know they're getting to Price.
"There were shots with screens and as soon as we get close to him he is pushing everybody and you can tell he is a little frustrated," said Flyers centre Daniel Briere. "That is the only way to beat him. We know he is a good goalie so we have to keep going to the net. It is the only way to beat him."
Carbonneau tried to deflect the attention away from Price, who has given up seven goals on 35 shots in the last two games.
"He's 20 years old, we can't forget about that," said the Habs coach. "We're trying to ask this kid to be a saviour for this club. But again, we had a 5-on-3 power play for two minutes in the first period, we had five of our best players on the ice. Maybe we should blame them also. It's a team game and we're not going to blame just one guy. I'll take some of the blame and the players will take some of the blame."
The Canadiens, meanwhile, feel robbed. They have outshot the Flyers 70-37 in the past two games but have dropped both. So what now?
"We're not happy and we're frustrated a little bit," said Cabonneau. "We'll find ways, we just have to keep going. In the last half of the game they couldn't keep up with us. They only had 14 shots. We just have to keep going, it's going to be a long series.
"I still have confidence we can come back."
Flyers' goalie Martin Biron, meanwhile, continues to befuddle the Canadiens, again looking sharp and in position while controlling his rebounds. He stopped 32 of 34 shots.
Koivu and Tomas Plekanec scored power-play goals in the third period as the Habs made it interesting ,but failed to get the tying goal.
RYDER SCRATCHED AGAIN
Canadiens' coach Guy Carbonneau decided to sit fourth-liner Mathieu Dandenault for Game 3 of Montreal's second-round series against the Flyers, but rather than call on Bonavista native Michael Ryder, he went with 20-year-old Guillaume Latendresse Monday night in Philadelphia.
Considering the number of scoring chances the Canadiens wasted in their 4-2 loss to the Flyers in Game 2, Carbonneau was asked why he wouldn't dress a finisher like Ryder.
"Michael has had some highs and lows since the start of the year," Carbonneau said. "I think we expected more from him this season. The way Guillaume played earlier in the playoffs, I felt he deserved to play."
Latendresse had an assist, five shots on goal and an even plus-minus rating Monday.
Ryder, who hasn't played since Game 5 of Montreal's first-round series against the Boston Bruins, stuck around for some extra work following the Canadiens' morning skate Monday and wasn't available for comment.
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