Price eager for another chance with Canadiens in Semifinals

Carey Price, known for keeping his emotions in check, didn't try to hide his enthusiasm and respect when the Montreal Canadiens goalie was asked about playing Marc-Andre Fleury and the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Semifinals.

"He's an awesome goaltender, an awesome dude," Price said of Fleury on Sunday. "I've had the opportunity to skate with him a few times. His work ethic speaks for itself. As far as trying to solve him, I don't think there are any secrets. It's going to be getting traffic in front of him and getting to the net.
"His resume speaks for itself."
So does Price's, which makes the goaltending matchup so intriguing in the best-of-7 series that begins with Game 1 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Monday (9 p.m. ET; NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVAS).
Through the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Price and Fleury each has been the backbone of his team.
Price has won seven straight starts and is 8-3 with a 1.97 goals-against average and .935 save percentage. Fleury is 8-4 with a 1.91 GAA and .923 save percentage.

For Fleury, being part of a team making a deep playoff run is nothing new. He has been to the Stanley Cup Final five times, winning the Cup three times with the Pittsburgh Penguins (2009, 2016, 2017). He lost in the Cup Final with Pittsburgh in 2008 (to the Detroit Red Wings in six games) and with Vegas in 2018 (to the Washington Capitals in five games).
Price, who began his NHL career with the Canadiens in 2007-08, has played in the third round twice (2010, 2014) but has never advanced to the Cup Final. The opportunity to have another chance is not lost on him.
"It's exciting," Price said. "This time of year, obviously, is the most fun time to play, it's the most challenging, it's the most difficult mentally. That's what makes it so exciting."
Price hasn't forgotten the disappointment of his last trip to the third round.
In Game 1 of the 2014 Eastern Conference Final against the New York Rangers, he sustained a lower-body injury when Rangers forward Chris Kreider crashed into him after missing the net on a breakaway in the second period of a 7-2 loss. Price missed the remainder of the series, which the Canadiens lost in six games.
Price and forward Brendan Gallagher are the two remaining Montreal players from that series seven years ago. Gallagher said he can sense the appreciation of the normally stoic goalie to be at this point again.
"You can kind of see it in his demeanor right now," Gallagher said. "He's locked in. He's ready for any challenge.
"Obviously going back to the last time we were here, it was pretty disappointing for him getting injured in Game 1 and then having to watch us eventually lose. So he's definitely excited, definitely hungry for the opportunity. It's pretty nice to play in front of a guy with that mentality."
Canadiens forward Paul Byron agreed.
"There's no doubt in my mind that every single player in this league knows that Carey Price is the best goalie in the League, and at any given point, he can steal you a game," Byron said. "It doesn't matter if you are playing with him or against him, you know he's capable of that."