The Montreal Canadiens will be without their Hart Trophy-winning goaltender until at least mid-January.
Carey Price, who took home the NHL’s MVP award last season, is expected to miss a minimum of six weeks as he recovers from a lower body injury, the Canadiens announced Monday. The injury, which Price initially suffered Oct. 29, will not require surgery, according to the team.
Price sits near the top of the NHL leaderboard in both goals against average (2.06) and save percentage (.934), but he has appeared in just 12 of the league-leading Habs’ 25 games. Rookie Mike Condon has gotten the nod in Price’s stead and impressed, posting a 8-2-3 record with a 2.19 goals against average and .916 save percentage.
The timing of Price’s injury also means Condon likely will be between the pipes for the NHL’s signature regular-season event: the Winter Classic. The 2016 edition of the annual outdoor showcase features the Canadiens and Boston Bruins and is set for Jan. 1 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.
Playing on such a stage would be a memorable experience for any player, but it surely would carry even greater significance for 25-year-old Condon, who grew up less than 15 miles down the road in Holliston, Mass. Condon already has played against his hometown team once this season, making 29 saves to backstop Montreal to a 4-2 win at the Bell Centre.
The Bruins and Canadiens potentially could meet three more times before Price is healthy enough to return, as Boston is scheduled to visit Montreal on Dec. 9 and Jan. 19 on top of the teams’ showdown in Foxboro.
With Price out, Dustin Tokarski will serve as Condon’s backup.
Thumbnail photo via Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA TODAY Sports Images
