Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen is very grateful to Carey Price even if he remains inactive in 2022-2023 because he considers him a great source of inspiration.
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In an interview with Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts podcast, No. 34 Habs says Price’s presence on the team has helped him adapt well to his work environment, he who will have his first season in the blue-and-white in 2020-2021 in red uniform, a season marked by only domestic travel (except in the playoffs) and games behind closed doors.
“My first year in Montreal was that of COVID. It wasn’t a real season. Especially in Canada you had to stay with your teammates. Price was also often on the sidelines, but I could see what he represented in the playoffs. I will never forget those months.
“Obviously throughout last season and this year, he’s stayed pretty grounded with injuries,” he said in the interview that aired Thursday. Carey was present and absent at the same time, if you will. On the other hand, when he was there, I cherished and enjoyed those moments by making the most of them.
define way
Of course, the Canadians’ run in the playoffs was a deciding factor in the eyes of Allen, who witnessed Price’s exploits that carried his team to the Stanley Cup Finals.
“He hasn’t played in two months and I’ve seen him lay the groundwork for his return to playing to be at his best again. His level of focus was exceptional and while he lives well, his focus when he emerged on the ice in the playoffs was exceptional, as was his confidence at the top. The boys knew that if they performed well, their chances of winning were good,” he said.
So Job #31, shot that spring, marked Allen in a way. He took notes on how to improve and act like a pro on the ice.
“I was immediately impressed when I saw it. He played over 700 games in the National League; that’s a lot of hockey. These were tough encounters and he had to put in a lot of work every day to make sure his body was ready, he said. [En 2021]he started with injuries and to see him come back in time for the playoffs was amazing.
A model
For Allen, who was acquired by the St. Louis Blues on September 2, 2020, the opportunity to work with one of the best in his field has only been beneficial.
“I could understand what he went through for many years because he was in the same position as me. I’m almost 33 years old, I’ve been playing in the league for a long time and haven’t got that much time here yet, […] but I’m comfortable with it,” he said.
“When I was traded to Canadian, I said to myself I’m going to play with Carey Price. He’s a guy I looked up to when I was younger. I had never met him before, except that he could make me better. I’m happy to have had him as a teammate.”