Carey Price’s long-awaited return to the Montreal Canadiens entourage was postponed until Tuesday, but head coach Dominique Ducharme insisted his star goalkeeper was eager to get back into action.
Price spent 30 days away from family and the Habs, after signing up for the NHL Player Assistance Program and the NHL Players Association.
He met the Canadiens’ doctors on Sunday, while he is still recovering from a knee operation he suffered on July 23. He was supposed to see his teammates first on Monday, but he will eventually do so a day later. “The therapists were happy to see how he was with his injury, but it’s still too early to set a date and put a plan in place,” Ducharme said of his eventual return to play.
In the absence of his star goalkeeper, the Canadian has had a difficult start to the season with only 3 wins to date after 13 games. “We started the season with some goals in mind and we’re not achieving them right now,” said forward Brendan Gallagher. As athletes, we don’t need extra motivation. We know how important Price is to this team. It will be a plus when he returns. But we are motivated enough because we hate to lose. “
Gallagher also recalled that in Price’s case, the priority was the human being, not the hoc-key player. The reasons that prompted Price to sign up for the aid program have never been disclosed. Price’s wife Angela, however, mentioned in an Instagram post that it was important to prioritize your mental health.
“It will be good for everyone. We have to help him in any way we can and we are happy to be able to see him again in the entourage of the team, ”said defenseman Jeff Petry.
Petry’s wife is close to Price’s. The defender said they spent time together in Price’s absence, as did the children of the two couples. “No matter the way, our families are going to support each other and we will be there for him,” said Petry.
“Carey is a man of few words no matter the circumstances and not just with the media,” he added. We became friends by chatting. We have a lot in common and we share some interests off the ice. He is good company and everyone is close to him off the ice. “
It will be good for everyone. We have to help him in any way possible and we are happy to be able to see him again in the entourage of the team.
Hope for a victory
Although the Canadian continues to chain defeats, Ducharme said he was encouraged by the performance of his troop over the past week.
After a 3-0 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, the Canadian suffered a 6-2 loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday and a 5-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday.
“I want the team to play like Tuesday and Saturday,” said Ducharme. Thursday, it was a bit in the same direction, but with too many errors which cost us dearly. “” Saturday, if we play 100 times like this, we’re going to win 90, 92 or 95 times. The scoring chances were 23-7. This is what we want every night. “
Ducharme noted, however, that the team needed to polish their shorthanded game. The Canadian is only 66.0% efficient in this situation.
Dvorak, an uncertain case
Forwards Jonathan Drouin and Christian Dvorak missed the Canadiens’ training on Monday morning. The team said both players were enjoying a day of treatment.
Drouin did not participate in the last two meetings of the Habs, after being hit in the face by a shot from his teammate Brett Kulak on Tuesday, in a 3-0 victory over the Detroit Red Wings. Ducharme reiterated that Drouin was not bothered by a concussion.
For his part, Dvorak has played in the Canadiens’ first 13 games this season. He had one goal and four assists, but has a minus-13 rating. Ducharme said he was an uncertain case for Tuesday’s duel with the Los Angeles Kings.
The Kings defeated the Habs 5-2 in Los Angeles on October 30.
For his part, defenseman Joel Edmundson skated solo after his teammates. Ducharme said things are finally moving in the right direction, as Joel Edmundson has been annoyed from the start of camp with an injury the nature of which has not been disclosed.