Habs : Carey Price was “phenomenal” in 34-save shutout of Rangers: Therrien

 Source : Montrealgazette.com

P.K. Subban was ready to come to Carey Price’s defence after New York Rangers forward Rick Nash ran into the Canadiens goaltender Saturday night, but Price told his friend to cool it.

“I told him to leave it,” said Price. “We were going on the power play and that was a lot better than playing 4-on-4 with a talented team like the Rangers.”

Turning the other cheek proved to beneficial to the Canadiens because Subban picked up his third assist of the night when rookie Brendan Gallagher scored to put the finishing touches on a 3-0 Montreal win.

Subban has scored 27 points in 28 games and recognition as the second star Saturday night sewed up the Molson Cup honours for March, but he kept the focus on the team in his post-game remarks.

“We’re playing well as a team,” Subban said. “We’re sticking to the game plan. We have 14 games to go (in the regular season) and our focus is on getting better.”

He did offer some individual praise for Price and defenceman Alexei Emelin.

“To be honest, I thought it was a routine game for Pricey,” Subban replied when asked if the 34-save shutout was Price’s best game of the season. “He makes saves out there look easy but they’re not easy. That’s just Pricey, he’s one of the best goalies in the league.

As for Emelin, he received a word of thanks for preserving the shutout while Subban was serving an interference penalty in the first period when the Canadiens were leading 1-0.

Price gave up a rare rebound on a shot by Ryan Callahan. That left Derek Stepan with an open net, but Emelin deflected the puck high and wide.

“I’m usually screaming and banging my stick when I’m in the box and the other team usually scores when I’m in there,” said Subban. “I thought Pricey made the save but I have to say: ‘Thanks, Em.’ ”

Price agreed: “That was a big play by Emelin and later in the game, he took one off the ankle for me.”

Earlier in the Rangers’ power play, Price had to do it all himself when Marian Gaborik came in alone and Price had to close the five hole.

If Subban was reluctant to talk about himself, head coach Michel Therrien was happy to oblige.

“P.K. is playing some great hockey for us,” Therrien said. “We asked him to be dependable with the puck and he’s making the right decisions. He has to also be dependable without the puck and this is something he’s focused on. He has the right attitude and it’s fun for the coaching staff to work with a guy who works hard and wants to be better.”

Therrien laughed when asked whether Price had redeemed himself after giving up four goals in two periods Wednesday night in Boston. Peter Budaj relieved Price in that game and was the key in a 6-5 shootout win. Therrien noted Price wasn’t the responsible party on several of those goals.

As for Price’s play against the Rangers, Therrien said: “He was phenomenal. He was square to the puck. He played a great, great game.”

Therrien also had some kind words for a couple of rookies — Gallagher and defenceman Nathan Beaulieu, who was making his NHL debut.

“Nathan played a solid game,” Therrien said after giving the newcomer 17:17 of ice time. “He made some good passes and kept his game simple. He has good vision with the puck, which is good for the transition game, and he wasn’t out of position on defence.”

That last item is important because Beaulieu came out of juniors with a reputation as an offensive player who needed to make a commitment to playing defence.

As for Gallagher, he took any fight out of the Rangers when he scored on a rebound, battling for control in front and then lifting the puck over Martin Biron.

“That was my only chance,” said Gallagher. “The goalies take away the bottom of the net in those situations and I knew I had to lift it.”

“He’s playing with a lot of determination,” Therrien said of Gallagher. “He’s tough to play against. He’s always on the puck, he’s always at the net. That was a huge goal.

“I have fun watching him,“ added Therrien.