Gainey takes aim at Montreal boobirds
Defends Carey Price's response to booing crowd
Last Updated: Thursday, April 23, 2009 | 2:00 AM ET
CBC Sports
Montreal goalie Carey Price lifts his arms at the Bell Centre crowd Wednesday after some in the audience booed him in the second period. (Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press)Montreal Canadiens general manager and coach Bob Gainey wasn't a fan of the fans at the Bell Centre who booed goalie Carey Price on Wednesday night.
The Canadiens fell 4-1 to the Boston Bruins to get swept in four consecutive games in the Eastern Conference quarter-final series.
Price finished with 26 saves in the game but is now winless in seven consecutive playoff games.
Some fans in the crowd got on Price after the Bruins widened their lead with a pair of goals in the second period, and the goalie responded by lifting his arms in a mocking fashion.
Gainey said he wasn't bothered by the 21-year-old goalie's response.
"He could have kept his cool and not made any kind of gesture towards the crowd, but on the other hand, when you're being bullied, basically, if you don't stand up for yourself, who's going to?
'When you're being bullied, basically, if you don't stand up for yourself, who's going to?'— Bob Gainey, on Price's response to boos
"By my count, he must of had three or four breakaways to stop in the second period and a couple of other open scoring chances, so where's the basis for the jeering coming from?"
Some in the crowd also booed Gainey, but the 55-year-old said he was more concerned by the criticism aimed at his young netminder.
Gainey talked about his experience as Dallas GM, where the team was able to prosper by acquiring Darryl Sydor, who had been booed regularly in Los Angeles.
"The people here should watch what they do, because our competitors down the road might be just waiting until we boo a guy out of town, and then they'll have to play against him all the time," said Gainey.
The GM oversaw the 2005 draft in which Price was selected in the first round and last year traded veteran Cristobal Huet, arguing that it was necessary for the young goalie to get battle tested in the 2008 playoffs.
Gainey is expected to address the media at length to discuss the disappointing season on Thursday.
