A lot of pundits shook their heads in doubt when the Montreal Canadiens dealt veteran goalie Cristobal Huet to Washington before last week's NHL trade deadline.

In doing so, Habs general manager Bob Gainey was signalling his belief that rookie Carey Price, 20, and backup Jaroslav Halak, 22, could handle the pressure of the Canadiens' goaltending duties.

Montreal goaltender Carey Price has won all three starts and posted a 1.33 goals-against average since the Candiens traded Cristobal Huet.
(Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)

Some critics thought Price wasn't ready, but thus far, Gainey's gamble has paid off: He has looked solid as the Habs' new No. 1 goalie, winning all three starts and posting a 1.33 goals-against average since Huet left town.

Price will try to make it four wins in a row Monday night when the Canadiens take on the Sharks in their first visit to San Jose in four years.

Price admits he was taken aback when Gainey told him that he would be looking to him to lead the team down the season stretch and into the playoffs.

"I was pretty surprised," Price told CBC Sports. "Obviously not too many people around the league expected it. It's kind of a shocker."

"Unfortunately for Cristobal, he got traded, but it's a great opportunity for me and a big challenge for us," Halak added.

Selected 5th overall

The Canadiens have had high hopes for Price since he was selected fifth overall in the 2005 NHL draft.

He was a standout with the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League, guided Canada to a gold medal at the 2007 world junior hockey championship, and helped the American Hockey League's Hamilton Bulldogs win the Calder Cup in 2006-07 before making his NHL debut this season.

There was never any doubt that Price would one day be ordained the Habs' No. 1 goalie, but the timing caught teammates off guard.

"We all know the future is with Pricey and he's going to be the No. 1, but it was more a matter of when, and I think it came so quickly that it was a little bit surprising," said Canadiens captain Saku Koivu.

Faith in his netminders

Despite Price's and Halak's inexperience, coach Guy Carbonneau believes his two young goalies will rise to the occasion.

"It's always a little scary. We've had Carey for five, six months now. He's a character guy. He's proved it in the past that in a tough situation he can rise above it. He did it at the world juniors, he did last year in the American Hockey League and I think he can do it in the NHL," Carbonneau said.

"I know Price doesn't have much experience, like Halak, but good players find ways to win games and get to the top, and I think those two will find a way."

A lot of pressure rests on Price, especially after Montreal posted a 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, vaulting into the Eastern Conference lead in the process.

The Canadiens (36-21-9) have won seven of their last nine games, and have a one-point lead over the Devils and the Ottawa Senators for first place in the East.

Montreal is in a dogfight to secure home-ice advantage in the playoffs, which means all eyes will be on Price.

"You can't put too much pressure on yourself. The coaching staff said they are going to be patient with me and not put too much pressure on me, and said they wouldn't do this if they didn't think I was ready," he said.