UNIONDALE, N.Y. - How does Montreal goaltender Carey Price find time to relax during a game? By taking a selfie, of course.
During a TV timeout late in the third period of a game against the New York Islanders, Price skated over to the boards where a young fan in a Canadiens jersey and cap was waiting with a smartphone. Price raised his mask and leaned in for the snapshot.
Price, a favourite for the Vezina Trophy that goes to the top goalie and the Hart Trophy as league MVP, was backstopping the Habs to a 2-0 lead at the time. The Habs won the game 3-1.
Tomas Plekanec and Max Pacioretty scored 2:15 apart in the second period while Price (38-14-4) bounced back from a loss against Ottawa two nights earlier in which he allowed five goals.
"This was a confidence builder for sure. A tough building to win in," Price said.
He heard chants of "Car-ey, Car-ey" from a large throng of Canadiens fans after a save during a late power play, but lost his shutout bid moments later when Josh Bailey scored with 2:18 left. He finished the night having stopped 35 of 36 shots.
"Carey Price was Carey Price," Canadiens coach Michel Therrien said. "He's a dominant player and a special player."
Islanders coach Jack Capuano went as far as to call Price an "MVP goalie."
"He made three or four saves that were outstanding that could've changed the game around," Capuano said.
Lars Eller made it 3-1 with an empty-net goal.
"This was a really solid effort by our club," Pacioretty said. "We played smart with the lead and never let up on them."
Plekanec opened the scoring 58 seconds into the second with his 20th goal, P.A. Parenteau made a drop pass to Alex Galchenyuk, who found Plekanec at the right post for the goal.
Neuvirth contributed heavily to Montreal's second goal at 3:13, a short-handed tally by Pacioretty. Neuvirth went behind the net to leave the puck for defenceman Johnny Boychuk. However, Eller beat him to it and centred a pass to Pacioretty in the slot for a shot that beat the out-of-position Neuvirth. It was Pacioretty's 34th goal.
Montreal is tied for the NHL lead in points with 93. They take on the Lightning Monday in Tampa and the Panthers in Sunrise, Fla., Tuesday.
