Hot Halak earns nod vs. Blues

[Habsfan84]

Head coach Guy Carbonneau rushed off to make a guest appearance in Chicoutimi yesterday, pausing only long enough to say that goaltender Jaroslav Halak will start tonight against the St. Louis Blues (7:30 p.m., RDS, CJAD Radio-800).
Carbonneau's decision is a bit of a surprise because Halak's appearances have been few and far between this season. While he has been in uniform for 27
National Hockey League games this season, he has appeared in four of them and has started only twice.

But Carbonneau, who was off to Chicoutimi to lend his support to the city's bid for the 2009 Memorial Cup, said Halak deserved to play again after shutting out the New York Islanders Saturday night.
"He played a really good game after a tough time," said Carbonneau, who owns a "few shares" in the Chicoutimi junior team.
"I know he was impatient to play. He hadn't played for a long time. I thought he was solid.
"I was impressed by how calm he was, how sure he is about who he is. He came in in a tough situation. It was his first (home start) since last season and we couldn't afford to lose that game."
The decision doesn't change the fact that Carey Price is the No. 1 goaltender and the guy who figures to hold that spot for a long time.
But Carbonneau said it was important to have two capable goaltenders.
"You're looking for a No. 1 at one point, but I've been here for three years and we've used both goaltenders every year. The future is going to tell us what we have, but I always say you need two good goalies. If you have (Martin) Brodeur, who can play 75, 76 games, then it's easier.
"If you have someone who can play 60, you still have 22 games and you need someone who can win," Carbonneau said.
"I'm really happy to be playing two in a row," Halak said. "I didn't think I'd be in this situation, but I'm glad the coaches have confidence in me."
Halak, who repeated his earlier comments about No. 2 goalies, fighting to be No. 1, has staked a claim to being No. 1 in the Bell Centre.
His win Saturday night means that he has an 8-0 record in Montreal.
While his appearances have been limited this season, he has posted strong numbers. He's 2-0, has a 1.13 goals-against average and has stopped 83 of 86 shots for a .965 save percentage.
While Carbonneau did some juggling before the Islanders' game, he said he'll stick with the same lineup tonight.
That means Patrice Brisebois will play and Ryan O'Byrne is out on defence.
Maxim Lapierre, Steve Bégin and Mathieu Dandenault are all healthy scratches.
The coach said he was pleased with the play of Christopher Higgins, who is playing on a line with youngsters Sergei Kostitsyn and Mikhail Grabovski.
Higgins picked up an assist on a power play and had several scoring chances against the Islanders.
Carbonneau asked Higgins to play a simpler, more direct game.
"I respect the coaches because they're all former players, they're all winners, and if they ask you to play a certain way, you change your game and do it. I think that's the way I have to play to be successful.
"When I'm playing my best, it's when I take the puck and take the most direct route to the net. I think I was trying to do too much.
"I think you have to establish your game and then you can try different things," Higgins said. "I was on Step 5 when I should have been on Step 2."
The Canadiens' week continues with games against the Bruins Thursday in Boston and back at the Bell Centre on Saturday.