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Tomas Plekanec believes Canadiens are more than just Carey Price

Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports / USA TODAY Sports

Montreal Canadiens forward Tomas Plekanec believes there's more to his team than just an all-world goaltender in Carey Price.

The suggestion has been repeatedly made over the past couple of seasons that the Canadiens' success as a team relies almost solely on the reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winner holding down the fort in net, with a lack of scoring talent up front. But Plekanec, who has played his entire career as a teammate of Price's in Montreal, is tired of hearing that narrative.

"You know what? I'm kind of sick of hearing that we're a team that's just about Carey," Plekanec told NHL.com's Arpon Basu. "Obviously he's the best goaltender in the world, we all know that. But should we feel sorry for ourselves that we play in front of him?

"He's a great goalie, but I think we're a better team than that. But we've got to show that. We've got to show that in the game that we're better. We've got to help him out a little bit more."

The Canadiens ranked 20th in scoring as a team last season, scoring 2.61 goals per game, but were first in the NHL in goals against per game, allowing just 2.24. Through at least their first game of 2015-16 these trends seem to have continued: Montreal was out-shot 37-30 by an underwhelming Toronto Maple Leafs team on Wednesday, but took the game by a 3-1 score - thanks in part to several acrobatic saves by Price.

Despite his feelings towards the continuous claims of Price being the Habs' savior, Plekanec admits that the team needs to improve their play in front of their most valuable asset.

"I think we're better than people are saying, but everyone has a right to their opinion," Plekanec said. "I don't think we're just about (Price), but we've got to prove that more."

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