Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price has not played for the team in three months, but the reigning MVP is "confident" that he will return this season. Out with a lower-body injury since November, the goaltender is now starting to work out with the team and is making progress with his recovery.
Price spoke to the media Thursday after participating in some workouts - in which he reportedly took shots from forward David Desharnais - for the first time since he was injured.
"I don't know when I'll be back at practice. I'm just continuing the process," Price said. "The last couple of weeks, I feel I've turned the corner... and me skating in full equipment shows that."
The goalie said he is feeling "great" regarding the injury and is "pretty confident" he will return at some point this season for Montreal. There is no official timetable for Price's return, however, there is also a chance Montreal will want to hold him out to avoid further aggravation of the injury. He was diagnosed with a six-week recovery time back in November, but things continued to get delayed in his recovery.
Price opened the season with seven straight wins for the Canadiens, but was forced to sit out for nearly a month after being injured against the Edmonton Oilers in October. Price later returned to action and won three games for Montreal, but then re-aggravated the injury against the New York Rangers Nov. 25. He has not played in a game since. Sportsnet reports that the undisclosed injury is likely a knee injury, but it did not require surgery.
Price is 10-2-0 in 12 games played this season with a 2.06 goals against average and a .934 save percentage. Montreal got off to a record start this season, but the injury to Price caused the team to slump. The team is not in the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference as they are six points back of the second wild card spot. The team is 30-28-6 on the season with 66 points, sitting behind the Senators, Devils, Hurricanes and Flyers in the overall conference standings.
