When Montreal dealt goaltender Jaroslav Halak to St. Louis last summer, many were quick to throw the Canadiens under the bus for cutting ties with Halak instead of Carey Price. How could they turn their backs on a goalie who was absolutely outstanding for over a month of playoff hockey? Still, the Canadiens did not believe that Halak was the better of the two. Plus, Price is younger, more controllable and shows more promise than Halak for the future.

So far into this season, Halak has played six fewer games than Price. Halak has a 9-4-2 record to Price’s 12-7-1. Price’s GAA is 2.05 and has a .932 save percentage, while Halak has only managed a 2.4 GAA and .910 save percentage. Price has shut the door on his opponents four times this season as well, while Halak has done it three times. If Halak had played as many games as Price, he would likely have at least one more shutout to match this number.

In Halak’s four losses – all on the road – he’s given up 21 goals on 91 shots for a .761 save percentage. He hasn’t allowed more than three goals in any of his nine wins or two overtime losses and in those games, totaling just 15 goals and he has a .951 save percentage. If Halak wants to keep winning games for his team, he better make sure he keeps the damage to three goals or less.

Montreal and St. Louis both have comfortable positions in their conferences, thanks largely due to Price and Halak, but in a head-to-head stats, Price currently has the edge. Sadly, the two netminders will have to wait until March 10, 2011 before they face each other head-to-head on the ice. By then, the playoff picture may already be decided for these two teams and a winner-take-all scenario won’t present itself. Maybe, though, the Canadiens face the Blues in the Stanley Cup Finals. Or, maybe not.