Canadiens' Price to miss at least six weeks
The Montreal Canadiens wanted to show that they were more than just Carey Price this season, but they probably didn’t want it to happen like this.
The team announced on Monday morning that the reigning NHL MVP will be sidelined for a minimum of six weeks due to a lower body injury. The injury will not require surgery according to the team. That timeframe also means he will not be able to play in the Winter Classic on Jan. 1 when the Canadiens visit the Boston Bruins in the NHL’s annual outdoor game that will take place at Gillette Stadium.
Price already missed nine games earlier this season due to a lower body injury and was able to return for three games before leaving their win over the New York Rangers on Nov. 25 after two periods.
In his absence the Canadiens’ will turn to Mike Condon to take over the starting role once again. For the most part, Condon has played well for the Canadiens this season in Price’s absence and helped them earn at least a point in his first eight appearances while recording a save percentage over .930. He hasn’t been as good in his most recent appearances, but the Canadiens have still been able to put together an 8-2-3 record in Price’s absence.
They won just six games without Price in the lineup all of last season.
Even though losing Price is a major blow to their lineup, the Canadiens seem better equiped to win without him this season because their offense has taken a huge step forward from where it was a year ago. After failing to score more than two goals in half of their games in 2014-15 and relying almost entirely on Price to carry them, the Canadiens are currently the highest scoring team in the league and have scored at least three goals in 20 of their 25 games.
After sweeping all of the NHL’s major awards last season and also leading the league in goals against average and save percentage, Price has been excellent once again this season when healthy, recording a .934 save percentage and posting a 10-2-0 record.
Condon has a .916 save percentage in his 14 appearances.
The Canadiens’ incredible start to the season has given them a massive cushion in the Atlantic Division race as they currently sit 10 points ahead of the second place Ottawa Senators so even if their play falls off a bit without Price it shouldn’t be enough to put them in danger of losing their playoff spot.
Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price will miss six weeks. (USATSI)
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