Can Carey Price lead Team Canada to Gold in Sochi?

We’re less than two months away from the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and Team Canada is no closer to deciding on a starting goaltender than it was before the start of the NHL season.

Actually, the list of potential candidates has only grown since then. The frontrunners remain Roberto Luongo, Carey Price, and Mike Smith, but other backstops like Josh Harding, Marc-Andre Fleury, Braden Holtby and even James Reimer deserve at least a look after strong starts.

When it comes down to it, you have to think Team Canada general manager Steve Yzerman will tap one of the top two for the first crack at the crease. When you look at the numbers, there isn’t much to choose from between Price and Luongo.

Price sits fifth in the league with a .932 save percentage and seventh with a 2.16 goals-against average. Luongo is tied for the league lead with three shutouts and owns a 2.26 goals-against average. There’s a case to be made for Luongo for certain. He’s the goaltender who led Canada to its last gold medal and has proven unflappable throughout numerous soap operas with the Canucks over the last couple of years.

That said, if there’s ever been a chance to give Carey Price, it’s now. He’s faced a steady barrage of shots win the Montreal Canadiens’ net and kept his team in games since the beginning of the year. Yes, he’s had meltdowns in the past, but you can say that about all of these goalies. The best strategy would be to start Price in the first game and then have Luongo or Smith, to come in out of the bullpen if needed.

They’re experienced enough to understand and accept that role and there’s a good chance we’ll see at least two and possibly three goaltenders in the Sochi Winter Olympics anyway. We’re probably making too big of a deal about who starts the first game.

What’s more pressing is filling out the rest of the roster. Reports surfaced this week that management has decided on five centres – Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, John Tavares, Patrice Bergeron, and Ryan Getzlaf. That’s a great start, but major decisions remain about Steven Stamkos and his leg injury, Milan Lucic, James Neal, Jamie Benn.

Of course, when you’re deciding between talent like that, it’s really an embarrassment of riches, but that’s why Canada is pegged as a +166 favorite to win the gold medal.