Price requested to stay in blowout: 'Nobody else has the opportunity to get pulled'
Carey Price wanted to finish the game he started, despite it not going the way he envisioned.
The Montreal Canadiens were rocked 7-1 by an excellent Minnesota Wild team Thursday night, and the game was essentially over after 40 minutes, with Minnesota up by four. But Price had no plans to leave the crease, and made sure his head coach Michel Therrien knew that.
Therrien via RDS in Minnesota: he talked to Price in second intermission, Price said he wanted to stay, he respected the decision
— Аrpon Basu (@ArponBasu) January 13, 2017
"Nobody else has the opportunity to get pulled during a game," Price said, according to TSN's Dan Robertson, clearly recognizing his teammates' effort, while acknowledging that sometimes the puck simply doesn't bounce your way. "I'd rather just stick it out."
The Canadiens have been involved in some wacky, high-scoring games this season, including Thursday's 7-1 affair. Price was in net for Montreal's 10-1 laugher over the Colorado Avalanche, and Al Montoya and the Habs made headlines when Montreal was rocked 10-0 by Columbus, with Montoya allowing all 10 goals. The Canadiens had a game the next night, so Montoya was left to flounder.
Price is struggling after a brilliant start to the season, allowing three or more goals in six of his last seven starts.
Montreal hosts the New York Rangers on Saturday.