Carey Price Illness: Updates on Canadiens Star's Status and Return

Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price had been out since the team's season-opening game against the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 13 due to the flu. However, he has been cleared to return.

Continue for updates.

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Price Active vs. Coyotes

Thursday, Oct. 20

The Canadiens announced Price will start against the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday.

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Price Among NHL's Elite Goalies 

On the heels of a 2014-15 campaign that saw Price register 44 wins, a 1.96 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage en route to winning the Vezina and Hart Trophies, huge things were expected out of the Canadian netminder in 2015-16.

While he was solid when he was between the pipes, posting a 2.06 GAA, a .934 save percentage and two shutouts, he appeared in only 12 games due to injury.

Price's injury woes started in October 2015 when he suffered a lower-body injury that kept him out of action for nearly a month. While the then-28-year-old goaltender returned to the crease near the end of November, he aggravated the injury three games later, and the team announced he would miss at least six weeks.

The ailment turned into a long-term issue, though, as Price missed the remainder of the campaign, and the Habs missed out on the playoffs.

Price seemed primed to return with a vengeance in 2016-17 after leading Team Canada to victory in the World Cup of Hockey with a 1.40 GAA and .957 save percentage, but his comeback has been put on hold.

Mike Condon largely struggled as Price's replacement last season, but he has since been replaced by Al Montoya, who was excellent in 2015-16 with the Florida Panthers, going 12-7-3 with a 2.18 GAA and a .919 save percentage.

The Habs need Price in order to return to contention in the Eastern Conference, and they are happy to see him back on the ice.

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