Carey Price’s return does not go as planned

Star goaltender Carey Price will made his season debut for the Montreal Canadiens against the New York Islanders on Friday at Bell Centre.

While he was perfect for the two first periods, stopping all 12 shots fired by the Isles during 40 minutes, he was beaten twice during the third period.

First, Price found himself all alone as the Islanders benefited from a 3-0 breakaway. Zach Parise beat Price to open the scoring.

Moments later, it was Noah Dobson who found the back of Price’s net to push the score to 2-0.

However, Price couldn’t go out and score the goals. The Habs fired 44 shots at Ilya Sorokin, but nothing went in.
We know, with the crowd cheering his name and the emotion on his face as he stepped on the ice, Price wanted it to go differently.

But it’s easy to see how the Canadiens were motivated and fired up to have Price back in the cage. Even at the end of the game, fans chanted Carey, Carey to celebrate Price’s return despite the 2-0 loss. The Islanders players even tapped their sticks on the ice to salute Price. He got another ovation when he was named the second star of the game. 

After the game, Price met with reporters: 

In a poetic way, the Islanders got the win for Mike Bossy, who passed earlier on Friday.

Price hadn’t played since Game 5 of the 2021 Stanley Cup final on July 7 and spent months recovering from off-season knee surgery. He was forced to pause his rehabilitation after voluntarily entering the NHL’s player assistance program last fall. He has previously said he entered the program for substance abuse.

He has spent his entire 14-season NHL career with the Habs and received a long ovation as he returned to the ice before puck drop.