The answer could not be clearer, and at the same time infinitely confusing.
Updated at 0:12
The question, she was simple: is there a possibility that we attended the last game of Carey Price’s career? Martin St-Louis’ response: “No idea. »
In an ideal world, we would have asked the principal concerned. But apparently, there was a lot of fun in the locker room after this 10-2 victory over the Florida Panthers – a game of which we will probably only remember the score, unless it is significant for the Canadiens’ goalkeeper, if you see where we’re going with that.
All that to say, Price will only give his version of the story this Saturday morning, on the occasion of his club’s end-of-season report. But back to the basic question: is it possible that number 31 has, before our eyes, made its last lap? The answer is: yes, it is possible. As luck would have it, Friday’s meeting was the last for Pierre Gervais, legendary CH equipment manager who is stepping down after more than three decades of responding to all the players’ whims and, above all, to listen to them and probably know them better than anyone.
Gervais did not try to escape. “I am not a doctor,” he warned. But in his eyes, the end of Price’s reign is “a possibility”. If necessary, he would have offered himself a hell of an end to the course, he added. With reason.
Photo Philippe Boivin, THE PRESS
Carey Price
Pierre Gervais, again: “I wish him all the best, everything he wants. This guy is amazing, he’s been through a lot. He worked so hard off the ice, I hope he has a good summer, that he will update the doctors on his injuries. I hope he can play for a few more seasons. »
And to repeat: “I hope so. »
Unpublished
Far be it from us to look for clues where there are none. But there was something unheard of in seeing Price, during the game, with fifteen seconds to go and as the puck was circulating in his crease, send the hand to his wife and children, stick under his arm. Obviously the cushion of 8 goals and the total lack of stake gave him the right to take it easy.
But if there was only that. All year, the question arose. Shortly after his appointment, at the end of January, general manager Kent Hughes said he was unable to affirm with conviction that we would see his goalkeeper on skates again. In the final stages leading up to his return to the game, Martin St-Louis reiterated that he was “listening to Carey”. That he, and he alone, would determine when he felt ready to leap into action.
His comeback lasted four games. After the 6-3 loss last Saturday in Ottawa, he was in bad shape. He was therefore given five days off, during which he notably consulted the specialist who had performed his knee surgery last summer. It was not a proper examination, they say. What came out of it? “No idea,” replied Martin St-Louis again, Friday morning, a few hours before the game.
Photo Philippe Boivin, THE PRESS
Cole Caufield
“Carey is driving the bus,” he said.
The players, despite themselves, have contributed to fueling the mystery. “We want to give him a win, that will be our goal,” said Chris Wideman. “We want to get the win for Carey, for Pierre Gervais and for Guy Lafleur,” added Jordan Harris.
Nothing excludes that this solicitude was intended to spare Price from going on vacation with an 0-5 record. It’s still great outpourings for a consolation record of 1-4.
The influence Price has over his teammates and even over his opponents is hard to describe in words. In the words of the wise Yannick Marjot: you have to see it to believe it. “When he’s in the locker room, you feel his energy,” suggested Cole Caufield after the game.
We will therefore not get lost in hypotheses and semiological over-analysis, because perhaps all these beautiful people really expect to count on a fresh and available Carey Price at the next training camp. And we did not chase Martin St-Louis for details after he said he was “happy for him that it ended like this”.
Was it about his season? Of her career ? The remark would be valid in both cases.
What we do know is that, for 15 years, we have never been bored when it came to Carey Price. We also know that will never change.
Up: Cole Caufield
Photo Philippe Boivin, THE PRESS
Alexander Romanov and Colde Caufield
Three goals, like an exclamation point at the end of an extraordinary season. The puck was traveling at 130 km/h on its first goal… on a wrist shot. He hasn’t finished impressing us.
Down: Jonas Johansson
Photo Philippe Boivin, THE PRESS
Jonas Johansson
A rare extravagance in this section. Not really a bad student in a 10-2 win, so might as well turn to the worst player on the ice, the poor Panthers goaltender. He will remember this evening for a long time.
The number of the match: -6
Panthers defenseman Matt Kiersted had played just 16 NHL games, posting a -6 differential. After his 17and match, here he is at -12.
They said
It was very cool. I would have preferred not to allow 10 goals! I grew up in northern Ontario, there were a lot of Canadiens fans. He was my father’s favorite player. It’s a shame he left us so young. But what a player he was.
Andrew Brunette, Panthers head coach, on the “Guy, Guy, Guy” shouted by the crowd after the 10th goal
It’s weird. I have always believed in higher forces, the gods of hockey. It’s rare that you count 10. I’m very happy for Guy.
Martin St Louis
I won’t lie, it’s pretty cool. It was a pleasant evening for everyone, a nice way to end.
Cole Caufield
With Lundell, we said maybe, but not quite ready. For Forsling, we were ready to use it, but the game got away from us so quickly that we gave up.
Andrew Brunette on his decision to bench Anton Lundell and Gustav Forsling for the entire game
At the start of the season, no one in our team or in the league was aiming for the Presidents’ trophy. It’s a good achievement, but I can assure you that, in our dressing room, no one even mentioned this trophy.
Ryan Lomberg, Panthers
With the collaboration of Simon-Olivier Lorange, The Press