The MVP goaltender has posted an uncharacteristic .877 save percentage through 11 games, leading to a record of 3-7-1. His latest loss came Thursday at the hands of the Minnesota Wild, wherein Price allowed five goals on 26 shots, including three in the first period.
But far as forward Brendan Gallagher is concerned, everyone on the ice needs to do their part to keep the puck out of the net.
"It's on us to limit those opportunities," Gallagher said, according to Matt Cudzinowski of Canadiens.com. "I think they're getting too many chances from prime scoring areas and we've got to be better in front of our goalie. He saved and bailed us out so many times that we're definitely not looking to him to rescue us now. I think we've just got to be better as a team."
For his part, Price doesn't seem overly concerned with his numbers to date.
"It's definitely a battle, but I know how to get through it. I'm not concerned about it," he said. "I'm just trying to stay positive and stick to the process. That's what makes you successful."
For his career, Price carries a .919 save percentage, and his single-season low is .905, set in 2008-09 and 2012-13. Since the latter season, he's been arguably the best goalie in the world, and needs to find that form again if the Canadiens are going to rise from 29th place and back into playoff contention.
The incidents took place after a Killorn goal was waved off due to goaltender interference at 3:01 of the third period. In the aftermath, both Stamkos and Hayes squirted water at the opposition, while Killorn was guilty of swinging his stick toward the Rangers bench.
Here's a look at Killorn's part:
Kevin Hayes squirts Alex Killorn with water from the bench, Killorn takes exception pic.twitter.com/ndxZ7hK8LG
Alex Ovechkin's ongoing support for Russian President Vladimir Putin is being well received back home.
On Thursday, the Washington Capitals superstar launched a "social movement" to reinforce his place on Team Putin, much to the delight of the Russian government.
"We obviously welcome in general Sasha's desire to express support for our president, especially from abroad," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, referring to Ovechkin, according to The Associated Press.
Ovechkin is "a very famous Russian, a very successful Russian, and we really know that he values our president highly," Peskov added.
A presidential election is set for March 18, but Putin hasn't confirmed whether or not he will run once again. Either way, he knows he'll have support over in Washington.
In the caption, as translated by The Washington Post, Ovechkin says he's never hid his relationship with Putin and has "always openly supported him." He's simply taking that a step further on social media.
I’m certain that there are many of us that support Vladimir Putin. Let’s unite and show everyone a strong and united Russia. Today, I want to announce a social movement in the name of Putin Team. Be a part of this team to me it’s a privilege, it’s like the feeling of when you put on the jersey of the Russian team, knowing that the whole country is rooting for you.
Following a win over the New York Islanders later in the day, the Washington Capitals superstar further explained his public support for the Russian President.
"I don’t try to be politics man or someone like that," Ovechkin said. "I just support my president and just support my country because I’m from there, and you know, if people from U.S. came to Russia, they care about what happening in U.S. So, I care about what happening in Russia because that’s my home and that’s where I’m from."
Ovechkin frequently represents his home country in international tournaments, and was very open about his disappointment over not being allowed to play at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea as the NHL will not participate.
DENVER (AP) Semyon Varlamov stopped a career-high 57 shots, Blake Comeau scored the first of Colorado's three second-period goals over a 3:33 span and the Avalanche beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-3 on Thursday night.
Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen also scored in the second for Colorado. Carl Soderberg added a goal, and Patrik Nemeth got his first NHL goal as the Avalanche improved to 5-1 at home. Colorado now embarks on a four-game, 10-day road trip that includes two contests in Stockholm, Sweden.
Varlamov rebounded from a forgettable game in which he allowed seven goals at Vegas last week. He preserved a 5-3 lead in the third by turning back 22 shots.
Victor Rask scored 55 seconds into the game for Carolina, which outshot the Avalanche 60-27. Elias Lindholm and Derek Ryan also had goals.
The Hurricanes pulled goaltender Cam Ward with around 1:45 remaining, but couldn't get anything past Varlamov. His previous high for saves was 54 on Jan. 6, 2015, at Chicago.
Colorado extended its lead to 4-2 in the second when Landeskog scored off a rebound. The Hurricanes challenged the goal, contending that Rantanen's skate may have been offside as Nathan MacKinnon brought the puck into the zone. The replay confirmed the goal and Carolina was assessed a delay-of-game penalty.
The Avs took advantage when Rantanen tipped in MacKinnon's pass 55 seconds later to extend the advantage to 5-2.
Carolina dominated the tempo in the first period, outshooting Colorado by a 22-9 margin.
Rask ignited the Hurricanes with a goal before many of the fans even had a chance to settle into their seats. He scored on a crazy-angle shot that crept in between Varlamov's arm and the post.
After Soderberg and Nemeth found the net for Colorado, Lindholm tied it at 2.
Absent for a third straight game was Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov, a healthy scratch.
''It (stinks) to be in the doghouse,'' lamented Zadorov, who signed a two-year deal at the start of training camp.
Colorado coach Jared Bednar said he's trying to find the right combination along the blue line.
''The plan moving forward is keep him working and help him get better,'' Bednar said.
NOTES: Carolina D Jaccob Slavin is from down the road in Erie, Colorado. He had six shots. ... D Roland McKeown was recalled from Charlotte of the American Hockey League on Wednesday. He was a scratch. ... The Avs are without forwards Gabriel Bourque (upper body), J.T. Compher (hand), Tyson Jost (lower body) and Colin Wilson (hip). ... MacKinnon finished with two assists.
UP NEXT
Hurricanes: At the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday.
Avalanche: At the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.
The Columbus Blue Jackets were the most surprising team in the NHL last season, improving their point total by 32 from the year prior. They aren't sneaking up on anybody in 2017-18, but remain near the top of the league's standings. They may not be the flashiest team in the NHL, but from top to bottom, they are the most complete.
Columbus' impressive 9-4 record is no joke. Heading into Thursday's action they ranked second in the NHL in expected goals for percentage at five-on-five, per Corsica.
Despite the even-strength offensive output, their success begins in the crease.
Strength from net out
It all starts with Sergei Bobrovsky, who is further cementing his status as the league's best goaltender. He took home the Vezina Trophy last season as the league's top goalie, and he's playing as though he wants to make it back-to-back.
The team in front of Bobrovsky is making it easier on him this year. Heading into Thursday's games, the Jackets had given up the fourth-fewest high-danger scoring chances against per 60 minutes at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick. Last season, they gave up the eighth-most.
Part of this is due to the maturation of their top D pairing, Seth Jones and Zach Werenski. The young duo has spent more time on the ice together at five-on-five than any other pairing in the league, and have put together a 58.26 Corsi For percentage, per Corsica.
Behind Jones and Werenski, the veteran pairing of Jack Johnson and David Savard have been rock solid. So, too, has former second-overall pick, Ryan Murray. He hasn't come close to reaching expectations, but he's certainly better than most third-pairing blue-liners.
Depth, depth, depth
The Blue Jackets may lack a marquee star player up front, but they have incredible scoring depth. All four lines can contribute. In their win over the Florida Panthers Thursday, 10 of their 12 forwards recorded a point.
Artemi Panarin leads the team with a modest 11 points in 13 games, but they have nine players who have at least seven points. Scoring by committee may give the impression that an offense isn't very good, but having four lines that can be rolled out at any time is incredibly valuable in today's NHL.
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Pittsburgh Penguins provide the biggest competition in the Eastern Conference, but both teams have been heavily reliant on the power play this season. When it comes to the playoffs, where fewer penalties are called, Columbus' ability to score at even strength gives them a huge advantage.
Moreover, Tampa has question marks on the back end, and Pittsburgh's search for depth down the middle and a backup goalie continues despite limited cap space.
Over in the West, the St. Louis Blues and Los Angeles Kings seem to be the top dogs. The Blues are amazingly overcoming a glut of injuries, and the Kings continue to win thanks to out-of-this-world play in the crease by Jonathan Quick, despite questionable scoring depth.
All four of these teams are superb, but all have their flaws.
The Blue Jackets aren't perfect, either. They still lack a true No. 1 center (whether Wennberg can be that remains to be seen), but when it comes down to player one to player 23 on the roster, the Blue Jackets are the most complete team in the league.
ST. LOUIS (AP) Michal Neuvirth made 33 saves and Brandon Manning broke a scoreless tie with a second-period goal to lead the Philadelphia Flyers over the St. Louis Blues 2-0 on Thursday night.
Claude Giroux added an empty-net goal with 5.4 seconds left in Philadelphia's first shutout of the season.
St. Louis lost at home for the first time after opening 5-0. The Blues, who earned at least one point in each of their previous seven games, were the only team in the league that hadn't been beaten at home.
Neuvirth, making his fifth start this season, recorded his 11th career shutout and first since Nov. 7, 2015.
Manning fired a shot from the right point that eluded Jake Allen, who made 21 stops. Jakub Voracek provided a screen in front. The shot was originally ruled no goal on the ice before replay officials changed the call.
Neuvirth robbed former teammate Brayden Schenn with a glove save midway through the second period.
The Blues were coming off 10 wins in October, tying a franchise record. They began the night tied with Tampa Bay with an NHL-best 21 points.
NOTES: Philadelphia D Shayne Gostisbehere missed his third successive game with concussion-like symptoms. ... D Will O'Neill made his NHL debut in place of D Radko Gudas, who sustained an upper-body injury Wednesday in Chicago. ... The Blues have allowed an NHL-low four goals in the first period. ... Philadelphia has been shut out three times this season, a league high. ... St. Louis defensemen have scored an NHL-best 14 goals.
UP NEXT
Flyers: Host the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday in the first of three consecutive home games.
Blues: Host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
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