Friday, April 22, 2011

Carey Price's moment of truth


So the predictable "experts" (Hockey Insideout peanut gallery at the Gazette's fanatic site) are still teeing off on Jaroslav Halak.

I have never understood this resentment against the little underdog who never got any respect from the likes of them, Canadiens coaching staff, management or the media.

Point final: your grapes and envy can never erase the wonderful miracle of 2010 and your delusional assessment of Carey Price is pathetic.

Price has now lost seven straight playoff games at home. Seven. Listen sweeties, if you give him praise when he wins and it is justified, more power to you. But if you can't see there's a spook between his ears and he's folding like a cheap card table there's something wrong with your blind loyalty.

No, this is not another case of "they love you win or tie," it's a call for balance, fairness and class.

Just admit Jaro never had any respect, any expectations and he exceeded our wildest dreams for playoff thrills and success.

Price on the other hand, as I've said (too) many times, is a poster boy, phenom, blue chipper, who when he was given the keys to the franchise has repeatedly faltered. Yes he took a big step in his development with what was generally an exceptional regular season.

But sports history is littered with the bodies of those regular season heroes who lay a big one in the playoffs. Joe Thornton and Roberto Luongo are the two reigning chumps.

If Price bakes another brownie in Boston he'll be on his way to confirming what I have feared for the last three years: he should have played an entire season in Hamilton in the AHL as a character and career-building exercise. Instead he was promoted too early and has been given a free pass time and time again. This is not even his fault, it's just another example of the poor judgement of the Canadiens brain trust.

He's all alone now, let's see what he's really made of. Blue chipper or a flameout?

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