Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien announced Monday morning that Price will miss the rest of Montreal’s series with the New York Rangers after he suffered an apparent lower body injury Saturday afternoon. Price apparently was hurt after New York forward Chris Kreider crashed into the goalie on a breakaway in the second period. Price finished the period, but he was replaced by Peter Budaj for the remainder of New York’s 7-2 win.
In his postgame news conference, Therrien told reporters that he didn’t have an issue with the play. Shortly after revealing Price’s unfortunate status, Therrien changed his tune.
“Looking at the incident, it’s a reckless play. That’s the truth,” Therrien told reporters Monday after morning skate, according to RangerRants.com. “And Kreider, this is not the first time he’s going at goalies. So, we end up losing our best player, but our group faced a lot of adversity throughout the course of the season and we responded and we’ve got the attitude to respond really well. And this is what I’m expecting starting (Monday night).”
That’s an opinion shared by Montreal forward Brandon Prust. The former Ranger questioned Kreider’s move Sunday.
“He didn’t run him, but he didn’t do anything to turn his body,” Prust said, according to Newsday. “We call it accidentally on purpose.”
Kreider wasn’t taking the bait when he was asked about the play Monday morning in Montreal.
[tweet https://twitter.com/reporterchris/status/468432025091715072 align=’center’]
Therrien wouldn’t say who’d be in net for the Canadiens on Monday night in Game 2 at Bell Centre.
