WHY PRICE SHOULD START TOMORROW NIGHT

If coach Carbs had a plan to start Halak in nets tomorrow night against Phoenix prior to starting the week, he now has reason to change that schedule and start Price instead. My rational for this of course are the same as my agreement with the management’s vote of confidence in the youth movement, and mainly Carey Price.

At 20 years old, I can hardly blame young Carey for loosing his cool against the Sharks following dismal reffing, however this doesn’t excuse him from the fact that he did let his emotions get the better of him. One of his greatest assets thus far has been his cool and mature demeanour that has earned him the nick name “Priceberg” or my noun for our phenom goaltender “Cucumber boy”…as in cool as a…

This will of course be a learning experience for Carey and he will only come back stronger. If you doubt that, you need not look any further than his escapade with Brent Sutter at the World Juniors. My concern however is the coaching staff messages.

Prior to the trade deadline the message was clear: “Who ever wins plays”. This was a sound strategy for the short term with two goaltenders able to do the job. However, wisely or not, this message was changed to: “Price is our #1 guy…rain or shine”. This new philosophy gives Carey Price the vote of confidence he needs to get to the next level. However it is being put to the test for the first time now.

The team scored 4 goals on the road and lost. The goaltender could have done a better job, and no one is arguing that. Price had a bad game…period. Now if Carbonneau comes back with Price, it gives Carey the pat on the back he needs. That tells him to get back on the horse and get going cause this team is his to lead. But if he comes in with Halak, than all of a sudden Carey is back to where he was three weeks ago: Nervous to make a mistake at the ultimate cost of not starting the next game. This kind of pressure for a goaltender in his age group and situation is not constructive. Such a pattern could be a motivational tool for a veteran who has lost the edge, but is a destructive process of thought for the goaltender who will win the next Stanley Cup for the HABS (yup…I’m going on the record to say it ;)).

I haven’t read anything on the subject, and I don’t know if a decision has been made or announced yet, but the worse thing Carbonneau could do tomorrow night is start Halak. Saturday seems like a better time to get Halak some ice time, and re-test Price against a crease crashing team like Anaheim.