Price rewards Gainey's faith

[Habsfan84]

With every passing year, the magical spring of 1993, seems to be more of a memory. So much has changed over the last fifteen years, and very little remains the same. Patrick Roy was traded, the Montreal Forum closed, and the Rocket passed away. A team that had established a standard of excellence, became mired in a slump that saw the team struggle as it hadn't since the mid to late 1930's. Instead of expecting Stanley Cups, fans expectations diminished to the point that they began to hope that the team would just make the playoffs. Being satisfied with making the playoffs was anathema to the old school Hab fans who were accustomed to watching dynasties led by names like Beliveau, Lafleur, and Dryden. Fans who had once lived and died with the team, began to move on and care less, as the team struggled to regain even a small modem of their former greatness. The magic that seemed to surround the Canadiens, a mystique unmatched in the league, seemed to disappear as everything that could go wrong did.
Slowly, but surely however, things are starting to change. For the first time in the history of the now decade old Bell Centre, the Canadiens are fighting for first place and the feeling in the arena and in the city at large is one that hasn't been felt in many years.
The anticipation before last night's game could be felt in the pregame warm-up. Facing off with the New Jersey Devils with first place on the line, brought a palpable sense of both tension and excitement to the night's proceedings. In the Canadiens decade and a half descent into mediocrity, no opposing team has brought them more trouble than the Devils. The one constant through all these years of Devil domination has been Martin Brodeur.
And while Brodeur has been the league's premier goaltender for the last decade, he has stepped up the domination when facing the Canadiens. At the beginning of the year, it didn't appear that things were going to change anytime soon. In their first of four meetings this year, Brodeur garnered his eighth career shutout against the Habs, in a 4-0 rout on November 30th, giving him 34 wins against Montreal, with only 12 losses, including a gaudy 1.71 goals against average.
The goalie for the Canadiens that night?
A 20 year old rookie named Carey Price.
Funny how things have changed so quickly. A stunning win over the Devils in January gave the Habs only their second win in Jersey since the cup year of 1993. But one game can be a mirage. After all, Brodeur has lost games to the Habs before. The true test would come in the Canadiens two remaining games against the Devils, with first place on the line, in Montreal on March 1st and 11th.
And then came February 26th and the equation changed for the Canadiens. The shocking trade of Cristobal Huet to Washington suddenly thrust rookie Carey Price into the starting role as the Canadiens top netminder. This show of confidence in Price by Canadiens general manager, Bob Gainey was met with derision and amazement by many critics. Many of those criticizing Gainey pointed out Price's youth and inexperience as reasons that this deal would backfire on the Canadiens.
What wasn't argued as loudly was Price's success at every level and his performance under the pressure of both the World Junior Championship's and the Calder Cup playoffs. Ultimately, the proof of Price's worthiness would be proven in the near future.
Worthiness can only be granted by playing and beating the best. And when it comes to being the best, Martin Brodeur is the unquestinable measuring stick for all other goalies
Two games later, with the pressure of first place, of facing Martin Brodeur, of playing against an experienced, successful well coached team, the verdict is in.
Carey Price - 69 shots faced, 1 goal against.
And most importantly two wins for the Canadiens.
For the first time in his stellar career Brodeur has lost three straight games to the Canadiens as well as losing the season series to the Canadiens. On the other hand, Carey Price has outplayed the best goalie in the game, a future hall of famer two games in a row. Over the last two weeks, since the Huet trade Price has passed every test put in front of him, and rewarded Gainey's faith in him.
Now, the Habs sit in first place in the conference with twelve games left in the season. Critic's will point out that Price hasn't proved anything, that he hasn't played a playoff game, etc...
Remember this though, Ken Dryden played his first playoff game in the spring of 1971. Patrick Roy played his first playoff game in the spring of 1986. Two months later, each was a Conn Smythe trophy winner and a Stanley Cup champion.

T.C. Denault is a lifelong fan of the Montreal Canadiens and a feature columnist for HabsWorld.net.