Carey Price explained why it’s impossible to stop Patrik Laine’s shot at times

BarDown Staff

Winnipeg Jets players celebrate after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens. , Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images

It didn't take long for Winnipeg Jets forward Patrik Laine to establish himself as an elite NHL forward.

The 2016 2^nd overall pick shined as a rookie, scoring 36 goals and 69 points while leading the team with nine power play goals. Hockey fans were shocked to see how hard Laine could shoot a puck and he quickly drew comparisons to Washington Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin. The 2017-18 season has told a similar story, as the Finn currently sits only behind Ovy with 44 goals. His latest goal came on a power play snipe past Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price in a 5-4 Jets overtime win. After the game, Price shared his thoughts on Laine’s shot and insisted it was “halfway” by him before he could “even pick it up off his stick.”

Carey Price on Patrik Laine's goal tonight: “It was halfway by me before I could even pick it up off his stick...I was just setting my feet as soon as it hit his stick and that velocity just kind of caught me by surprise a little bit."

Not the first goalie to feel that way.
— Аrpon Basu (@ArponBasu) April 4, 2018

Those are some pretty notable words considering they came from arguably the best goaltender of his era. Price has been in the NHL since 2007 so his comments ought not to be taken lighly.

#CareyPrice has surpassed Jacques Plante for most games played by a goaltender in Montreal #Canadiens history.

A post shared by TSN (@tsn_official) on Apr 3, 2018 at 6:08pm PDT

Laine wasn’t a part of the 2018 NHL Skills competition, but he’ll more than likely be there for 2019 if he can replicate his campaign. His name will be one to watch during the hardest shot competition as he could take on players such as Ovechkin and Nashville Predators defenceman P.K. Subban.

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Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images

The marker helped Laine snap a seven-game goalless drought, which is incredible to think considering he trails Ovechkin by just two goals for the league lead. Unfortunately for Price, he, and others will have to face the sophomore’s blistering shot for years to come.

(H/T r/Hockey)