Will Carey Price in the Net for Montreal Lift the Habs to Victory?
Carey Price to start in nets for Montreal Canadiens tonight – making first appearance this season
Habs are + 130 on the moneyline and -185 on the puckline – we like both bets
Montreal goaltender Carey Price, who largely carried his team to a Stanley Cup appearance last season, will play his first game of the nearly done 2021-22 season tonight. The Habs host the New York Islanders at the Bell Centre on Friday night.
Interim Canadiens head coach Martin St-Louis confirmed the news after morning practice.
Forward Michael Pezzetta and defenceman Corey Schueneman will also be inserted into the Habs lineup, replacing Tyler Pitlick and Jordan Harris.
Price has not played since July 7, 2021, when the Habs surrendered to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.
The 34-year-old British Columbian underwent knee surgery on July 23 and was expected to be back in time for the start of the season on Oct. 13. However, the Habs announced on Oct. 7 that Price had enrolled in the NHL and NHL Players' Association's Player Assistance Program and would be out for at least 30 days.
Price later admitted that he had made the decision in order to deal with a substance use problem.
Upon his return to the team's entourage in early November, Price had to begin rehab again. His rehab program was then interrupted in early 2022 when the team was affected by an outbreak of COVID-19.
Price had said on Jan. 31 that he was hopeful of playing by the end of the season, but admitted that there was a possibility that his career was in jeopardy.
He had to take another step back recently in March due to another illness.
The Habs have had a miserable season in his absence. They ranked last in the NHL before Friday's games with a 3.81 goals-against average.
The Habs' first round pick in 2005, fifth overall, Price has a career record of 360-257-79 with a 2.50 GAA and .917 save percentage. His 360 career wins rank first in team history.
Note: This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 15, 2022
