Did Chris Kreider run into Carey Price on purpose? New explanations spark reactions

PUBLICATION

Jeff Drouin
September 13, 2022 (1:45 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

In the 2014 playoffs, the Habs had made it to the Eastern Conference finals with a masterful performance by the team in the second round of the playoffs, they would now face the Boston Bruins.

P.K. Subban had been spectacular, Lars Eller was playing his best hockey with the Habs at the time, but the team's most valuable player during that playoff run was undoubtedly goalie Carey Price.

Number 31 had been very solid during the series against the Bruins and all hopes were high for the Eastern finals, which Michel Therrien's team was about to play against the New York Rangers.

Unfortunately, in the first game, an incident occurred. An incident that probably prevented the Canadiens from reaching the final that year, but also an incident that has repercussions even today in 2022.

I'm talking about the collision between Rangers forward Chris Kreider and Carey Price. We know what happened... Price had to give way to Dustin Tokarski in net and the Rangers won the series in six games.

Did this incident stop Carey Price's career?

The answer is yes according to Bob Hartley, who spoke about it recently, but as reported by Mark Suciu, of Habsolumentfan.com, a Rangers fan hit back at the former NHL coach's comments via social media.

A man named Blake posted a screenshot of the incident on his Twitter account, where we can see that Alexei Emelin's stick probably caused Kreider to fall.

Let's say it's not obvious with this picture, but if you remember at the time, many Canadiens fans swore loudly that the Rangers' forward had exaggerated his gesture and that it was voluntary on his part.

I'm not here to pass judgment, but in hindsight, I can't imagine that Kreider intentionally ran into Price.

By the way, in the tweet below, it's very clear that Kreider's falls are quite similar.

I mean.... pattern here?!

🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/8ElIAjjVtN- GET PUCK'D! Podcast 🎙 (@GETPUCKDPodcast) September 10, 2022

The senior had defended himself after the game, which the Rangers easily won by a score of 7-2.

"When I look back at the footage, I hope I could have put it in the net. Obviously, I was trying to score a goal. I didn't go in with the intention of hurting anyone."

Whether it was intentional or not, it must be said that this injury suffered by Price was the first of many and his career has been littered with ups and downs thereafter. This incident, which occurred on May 17, 2014, will remain forever etched in the memory of Canadiens fans.