Habs won't name starting goaltender

Apr 30, 2008 - 5:35 PM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The starting goaltender for the Montreal Canadiens in Game Four of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Philadelphia Flyers remains a mystery.

Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau told the Montreal Gazette that he will not a name a starter until game time on Wednesday.

Montreal is hoping to avoid falling into a three-games-to-one hole in the best-of-seven series.

Montreal rookie Carey Price was pulled after allowing three goals on just 12 shots in Monday's 3-2 Game Three loss. Jaroslav Halak replaced Price in the third period but faced only two shots.

The 20-year-old Price became the Canadiens' No. 1 goaltender when Cristobal Huet was sent to the Washington Capitals at the trade deadline.

Price played well down the stretch and early in Montreal's previous series against the Boston Bruins, but his inexperience may be starting to show.

"This is the NHL playoffs," Price told the Gazette. "I'm 20 years old and I'm finding out the hard way that the NHL playoffs aren't easy. It's better to find out now than when I'm 30."

Price has struggled in the three games against the Flyers, posting a 3.79 goals-against average and an .853 save percentage.

However, it would be hard to imagine Carbonneau making a switch to the seldom-used Halak, who started only four games during the regular season.

On Monday, Halak played in his first game since March 29, when he surrendered four goals in a 4-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.