MONTREAL — Compared with the rest of the N.H.L., the Canadiens do not score much, or shoot much, or control the puck much, which would seem to make it awfully difficult for them to win much — let alone 43 times, second most in the league — if not for a very important detail.

There is only one Carey Price, and he is theirs. The fans at Bell Centre thunder his name before the national anthem and during play and after games, even losses, paying homage to a goaltender compiling one of the finest seasons in years.

Price’s performance has rendered reality indistinguishable from hyperbole, spoiling this city and its fabled team, blessed at the position by the likes of Jacques Plante, Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy, as almost never before.

After stopping 35 shots in a 3-1 victory against the Islanders on Saturday night, Price leads the league with a .936 save percentage and a 1.91 goals-against average. Only one other goalie has played to that standard across at least 50 appearances, according to Hockey-Reference.com: Dominik Hasek (.937, 1.87) in 1998-99. Hasek did not win the Hart Trophy, awarded to the league’s most valuable player, but Price is considered the leading contender this year.