Canada

Canadians’ Carrie Price will make her season debut against the Islanders on Friday

Kerry Price, the star goalkeeper of the Montreal Canadiens, eliminated after the Stanley Cup final last season, while facing several setbacks, will make his long-awaited return to the squad on Friday against the New York Islanders, said coach Martin St. Louis.

“I can’t wait to see, the team is really happy to see Kerry online,” St. Louis told reporters on Friday in France. “I expect us to be better.”

During the morning skating of the Canadiens, Price could be seen participating in the usual routine of the starters, ahead of the confirmation that he will make his debut for the season in front of the faithful Bell Center.

Price joined the Canadians on their trip last week, accompanying the team to New Jersey and Toronto, but was not expected to play in any of the matches. Still, his return to daily play marks a significant step in his quest to return before the end of the season.

Price last played on July 7, in match 5 of the Stanley Cup final, and his long absence from the team began just weeks after the end of the series. Initially, this was due to off-season knee surgery, but later expanded to earlier this season, when he went for treatment for what he called long-standing substance abuse problems.

When asked recently when he thought Price would play again, Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis said: “I have no idea” before adding that “if you get a little sample of Kerry this year and some encouraging things about him – is that is his game or how he feels after his game – I think the Montreal Canadiens will be in a better place. “

In recent months, evidence of Price’s progress has been growing, fueling cautious optimism that he will be able to return before the end of the Canadiens season.

Price skated briefly in late 2021, but then had to take a step back in his recovery, returning only to work off the ice until March, when his work on the ice resumed. He has since been involved in several Canadian practices, although he has been forced to take another break due to a non-COVID-related illness.

Perhaps the most encouraging development of ice came in early April, when Price was able to participate widely in practice. He stayed on the ice for most of Montreal’s first exercise – a small area fight between the two blue lines – and did most of the work for everyone else for the next 50 minutes.

Without Price, the Canadians struggled through a largely memorable season on the ice, hampered by poor play and injuries that led to a major overhaul of the front office. They are penultimate in the NHL with 20-43-11.