Carey Price out another week for Canadiens, and that’s just fine

Carey Price was spotted in New York City on Monday, raising suspicions that Montreal Canadiens netminder wouldn’t be returning any time soon. Those suspicions were on to something as the team announced Tuesday the netminder will miss an additional week as he deals with a lower-body injury

“We hope that he’s going to be able to get on the ice pretty soon,” said head coach Michel Therrien. “This is good news.”

As part of their dad’s trip, Price and his father will travel with the team to Pittsburgh.

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Last Sunday, it was announced that Price would be out a week with the injury. When it began to look like his return wouldn’t be imminent, the goaltender went to New York for a second opinion. He was given the same diagnosis there that team doctors gave him, so now he’ll continue treatment for another week.

Price’s absence might have slowed a Canadiens team off to a league-best 13-2-1 start, but keeping things steady has been 25-year old backup Mike Condon, who’s won six of his first seven NHL starts. He was the NHL’s Third Star of the Week last week and has posted a .954 even strength save percentage this season. 

With 66 games left in the regular season it’s smart for Price and the Habs to take their time with his recovery, especially with the way Condon is playing.

“He’s got an opportunity to play more than we were probably expecting with the injury of Carey Price,” Therrien said. “But he’s responded the right way. He’s taking the good approach about playing one game at a time and he’s working really hard and [is] really mature. We’re all glad he’s capable of competing that way.” 

Stick-tap Amanda Stein for the Therrien audio

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