Habs lose Weber for season, Price indefinitely
MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens announced Wednesday veteran defenceman Shea Weber will be out for the rest of the season and goaltender Carey Price is sidelined with a concussion until his symptoms reside.
The head injury comes after Price was struck in the face mask by a shot in Tuesday’s National Hockey League game against Philadelphia. Price appeared shaken up by the shot but played for the rest of the game.
Meanwhile, Weber, 32, will undergo surgery after tearing a tendon in his foot. Weber is believed to have been injured when hit by a shot in the opening game of the regular season.
Coach Claude Julien said this week that Weber played through the pain until he had to come out of the lineup. He skated in 20 of the first 21 games, took six games off, then played six more before going on the injured list for good.
It is the second time in the past three seasons the Canadiens have lost a star player for the campaign. In 2015-16, it was Price with a knee injury.
In both cases, the player was expected back within weeks of the injury, only to see his absence drag on until he was finally shut down for the season.
The team said surgery will be required because the injury didn’t heal as expected.
“After further exams, and a consultation on Wednesday in Green Bay, Wisc., with specialist Dr. Robert Anderson, and with Shea’s approval, it has been determined that he should undergo surgery and will be out for the reminder of the season,” team orthopedic surgeon Paul Martineau said in a statement.
The Canadiens have struggled with their top defenceman either hampered by injury early in the season or out of the lineup since December.
As when Price was injured two seasons ago, they are unlikely to make to the playoffs.