From Montreal Canadiens reporter Eric Engels:
I'm told Dustin Tokarski is starting tonight. #habs
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) May 19, 2014
And since echoed by Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports:
#canadiens Dustin Tokarski will face the #rangers tonight. #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) May 19, 2014
In case you just woke up or something, Carey Price is hurt and the Habs say he’ll miss the rest of the Eastern Conference Final. Hence, the big decision for coach Michel Therrien.
Therrien has two options to replace Price -- regular back-up Peter Budaj, or 24-year-old Dustin Tokarski, who’s only started seven NHL games in his career, but shut out the Sabres in his last appearance for Montreal on March 16.
Tokarski has also won the Memorial Cup, as a member of the 2008 Spokane Chiefs; he’s won gold for Canada, at the World Juniors in 2009; and he’s won the Calder Cup, in 2012 with the Norfolk Admirals.
Budaj, meanwhile, was not particularly impressive during the regular season (10-8-3, .909 save percentage) and allowed three goals on eight Rangers shots in relief of Price in Game 1.
Related: Habs need to put Game 1, Price injury, and Boston series behind them