While his current stint on injured reserve isn’t exactly disproving the theory, Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price is nonetheless poised to put the myth of a post-Olympics hangover to bed. Even so, it’s not how he plays in the immediate aftermath of his gold-medal victory once he’s healthy that should matter most to his critics.
The narrative that an Olympics appearance leads to a sluggish final quarter to the NHL season is a popular one. It gives owners an additional argument against sending their players overseas and players an excuse should they falter upon their return. However, at least among goalies, there’s little evidence to support the theory.
For example, in 1997-98, Buffalo Sabre Dominik Hasek went 33-23-13 with a 2.09 goals-against average and .932 save percentage overall en route to capturing the Vezina Trophy. After his gold-medal win in Nagano, the Czech actually boosted his chances with an incredible .948 save percentage and 13-6-3 record the last leg of the season.
Similarly, Canada’s Martin Brodeur went 14-5 with a .911 save percentage upon returning from Salt ...
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Article written by Ryan Szporer
Will Olympics Performance Quiet Montreal Canadiens Goalie Carey Price’s Critics?
March 8th, 2014 by Ryan Szporer Leave a reply »
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