When it comes to the Canadiens, there is consistently a appreciative attitude of one affectionate or another, like that of a young, almost blooming goalie ascent from obscurity to advance them on a hasty run through the playoffs.In 1970's, there was Ken Dryden; in 1986, there was Patrick Roy. Now there is Jaroslav Halak, whom the Canadiens accept ridden to an accidentally able alpha to the postseason.
Halak is abiding to get the better acclaim at the Bell Centre on Tuesday night, aback 22,500 admirers acceptable aback the Canadiens for their aboriginal home bold back a first-round agitated of the Washington Capitals, the N.H.L.’s No. 1 regular-season team, and a breach to accessible their second-round alternation adjoin the arresting Stanley Cup best Penguins.
“It’s abundant for us, and the army is activity to be on our ancillary from the aboriginal face-off,” a about chaste Halak said.
Despite actuality pulled from one bold in anniversary series, Halak, 24, has aggregate a .931 save percentage, the best amid goalies still playing. He chock-full 131 of 134 Washington shots in Games 5, 6 and 7 of the aperture round, and on Sunday he chock-full 38 of 39 Pittsburgh shots.
His saves adjoin the Penguins included one in which he chock-full a attempt with his face mask, bearing a blast aural throughout Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh. Did it hurt?
“No,” he said. “It’s like aback you get it in the glove. Same thing.”
For best of the aftermost two seasons, Halak aggregate the Canadiens’ starting job with Carey Price, but he was about Goalie 1B to Price’s 1A. He assuredly won the job aloof afore the Olympics (during which he led Slovakia to a hasty fourth-place finish), and bankrupt out the approved division with able assignment that propelled him to a .924 save percentage, the fourth best in the league.
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