Montreal Canadiens: Enemy’s Insight – A rejuvenated Carey Price

2) Will Carey Price ever return to his production of old?

This has been a growing topic among Habs fans all season. It hasn’t sat well to see Carey Price struggle a year before his big-time extension that will have him making $10.5 million per year kicks in. However, something everyone, and not just those who follow the Montreal Canadiens, has to realize is that the 2017/18 season is the one-off to mark all one-offs. Checking Price’s stat page to notice that he’s in his thirties is concerning, but that has nothing to do with his season.

Statistically, the 30-year-old’s numbers are pretty bad. Price has a 16-25-7 record with a .901 save percentage and 3.09 goals-against-average. Assuming that holds up, and it most likely will seeing as there are only two games left in the season, those will set new career lows. To take away the first piece of evidence, regardless of his performance this year, Price is a career .918 goaltender. That already screams to a whole lot of things not working in his favour to knock him down to where he is now.

What are some of those things? Poor coverage, turnovers, and most importantly a lack of drive at times. The Montreal Canadiens are among teams in the top half of the league who give up the most high danger scoring chances when up or down a goal at even strength (102 and 118 respectively).

Obviously, it’s not all on the players in front of him as Price has had some off nights where the puck found a way to go in more often than not. However, even a goaltender of his calibre can get exposed if being subjected to so many chances. Price will return to his level of play, and the Habs need him to. If the Montreal Canadiens plan on having a turn around season, it starts with the status of their goaltending.