Habs' Condon is very deserving of "Three Stars" honors

Upon Carey Price being sidelined with a lower body injury, the rest of the Montreal Canadiens set out to prove that they could still string together wins without his goaltending prowess.

The Habs have indeed continued to roll, winning five of their last six games. One reason they haven’t faltered in Price’s absence? Because his backup, Mike Condon, is giving Montreal every opportunity to win.

It’s no wonder the rookie snagged NHL"Three Stars" honors for his performance during that week.

While a steady Habs’ offense has certainly played a part in keeping them on the right track, Condon’s contribution cannot be downplayed. Since stepping in to the starting role for Montreal he has registered a 2-0-1 record with a 1.66 goals-against average. That puts him at 6-0-1 for the season with a 1.57 goals-against average and .940 save percentage in his first seven games in the NHL.

More impressive yet is Condon’s mindset headed into each contest. Being part of Montreal’s best season start in franchise history is a big deal. However, the Massachusetts native is trying to keep things in perspective, telling Sean Gordon of The Globe and Mail that he hasn’t even invited family or friends to watch him play yet, knowing the starting job isn’t a long-term guarantee:

“Every day I wake up and know I could be in St. John’s [home to the Habs’ AHL affiliate]. Every day I’ve got to earn it. Some people might say it’s putting a lot of pressure on yourself, but there’s no better way to motivate yourself in the morning,”

That push doesn’t stop with last week’s stellar performances either. Reports surfaced on Monday that Price "left town for a follow-up medical visit" and is probably still some time away from returning. That just gives Condon more room to keep helping the Habs win games.

And possibly snatch up more “Three Stars” honors. He sure as heck is earning it.