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Montreal, it looks like we might have a goaltending controversy.
For the first time since the 2010-11 season, Carey Price is not the undisputed No. 1 goalie with the Canadiens.
Jake Allen made his fifth start of the season Saturday afternoon in Ottawa and made 34 saves as the Canadiens beat the Senators 2-1, improving their record to 8-2-2. Allen now has a 4-1-0 record with a 1.81 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage.
Price allowed three goals on 22 shots in Thursday night’s 3-2 loss to the Senators at the Bell Centre, dropping his record to 4-1-2 with a 2.81 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage.
Before Saturday’s game, coach Claude Julien said he wants to keep both his goalies fresh, which is why he gave Allen the start, adding that he was looking at the big picture for the 56-game season.
The Canadiens don’t play again until Wednesday night, when the Toronto Maple Leafs will be at the Bell Centre. In previous seasons, Price definitely would have started Saturday afternoon, especially with the three-day break coming up. But Julien now has a backup goalie he obviously has full trust in and Allen delivered for the coach and his teammates — again.
