NHL: No Price, no Crosby with Canadiens’ home opener on tap
BROSSARD, QUE.— Neither Carey Price nor Sidney Crosby is expected on the ice for the Montreal Canadiens’ home opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins, but there are plenty of storylines nonetheless.
It starts in goal, where Al Montoya will make a third straight start in place of the ailing Price when the teams meet Tuesday night at the Bell Centre.
Montoya will almost certainly be up against Mike Condon, the man he beat out for the job as Price’s backup in training camp. Condon was claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh at the end of camp to fill in for the injured Matt Murray.
“We’ll see how that goes,” Montoya said with a laugh.
Penguins starter Marc-Andre Fleury was pegged to play Monday night at home against Colorado, making Condon the likely starter in Montreal, where he had an up and down rookie campaign, playing most of the games after Price blew out a knee last Nov. 25.
“I’m sure he’ll be excited,” said Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher. “He’s got a good opportunity there in Pittsburgh and I hope he takes advantage of it. I just hope it’s not (Tuesday) night against us.”
Price is feeling better after missing Montreal’s first two games with a nasty flu, but needs to regain weight and energy before he can play. The 2015 Hart and Vezina Trophy winner took part in off-ice training and worked for 40 minutes with goalie coach Stephane Waite before the main practice on Monday.
Coach Michel Therrien said Price wouldn’t dress against Pittsburgh and wasn’t sure if he’ll be ready to face Arizona on Thursday.
“When he’s able to play, it means his energy, his weight, everything, has to be 100 per cent,” said Therrien. “In the NHL, you’re facing great hockey players and you need to be on top of your game. Otherwise, you can’t play.”
Price felt completely healed when he joined Team Canada and led them to gold in the World Cup of Hockey last month. He got into one preseason game before falling ill. Of course, there were suspicions in some corners that Price had reinjured his knee, which drew a shrug from Therrien.
“The guy’s sick. What do you want me to say?” the fifth-year coach said.
Crosby, the Penguins superstar, missed the start of the season with a concussion. He skated Monday before the team’s main skate and is listed as day to day, but it is doubtful he will play in Montreal.
It will be interesting to see how the Bell Centre crowd greets defenceman Shea Weber. Most fans were shocked and some were outraged by the trade that sent dynamic, puck-carrying defenceman P.K. Subban to the Predators for the more conservative but highly-respected Weber.
Weber is off to a good start, with two assists and a plus-3 in his first two games for Montreal.
“We’ll support Shea,” said Therrien. “For our fans, for management, the coaches and players, we’re all excited to get a guy like Shea Weber.”