NEWARK, N.J. — Coach Michel Therrien was playing the role of cockeyed optimist Thursday as he discussed the health of goaltender Carey Price.
“It’s the same injury and he’ll be out for a week,” Therrien declared after his team practised in preparation for Friday’s game against the New Jersey Devils (7 p.m., Sportsnet East, RDS, TSN Radio 690).
While the Canadiens won’t go into any more detail than to say it’s a lower-body injury, Price was spotted limping through the lobby of the team hotel Thursday morning and he was favouring his right leg. After Price suffered the original injury last month, he was out of action for three weeks.
The injury has put Mike Condon back in the spotlight. The 25-year-old rookie was scheduled to play Friday’s game, but it’s likely he’ll face the Devils again Saturday at the Bell Centre.
Condon has a 7-2-2 record and was 5-2-2 in Price’s absence. But he has only one win in his last three starts and that’s why Therrien agreed that it was a good thing that Condon had a chance to play the third period against the Rangers in New York Wednesday.
“He played well and that was good for his confidence,” said Therrien. Condon stopped all 11 shots he faced to finish the 5-1 rout.
Price wasn’t the only player to leave the New York game hurt. Forward Alexander Semin suffered a lower-body injury and the prognosis for him is also a week. His absence opens up a spot for 27-year-old George (Bud) Holloway to make his NHL debut. The native of Wapella, Sask., (population 354) has played in the AHL and spent the past four seasons playing in Europe.
“I’m really happy for him,” said Therrien. “He’s been working hard and I talked to him earlier in the week and I told him that I was going to find a spot for him to play.”
“I’ve waited a long time for this and it’s going to be exciting,” said Holloway. He said he expected to be hearing from family and friends via social media this week. He’ll be on the fourth line with Brian Flynn and Paul Byron.
Devante Smith-Pelly was on that line a week ago, but he has moved to right wing on the line with Tomas Plekanec and Max Pacioretty, and he scored two goals in New York.
“He’s not the same player he was when we got him last year,” said Therrien. “He’s in better shape and he’s able to keep up the pace.”
Much has been made of Smith-Pelly’s weight loss in the off-season, but he said he’s only dropped a few pounds. The difference is his body fat is down and he’s showing the benefits of an intensive skating program.
The Canadiens also received a strong performance from the Alex Galchenyuk line. It has only been two games, but Therrien said Sven Andrighetto might be the perfect complement for Galchenyuk and Lars Eller.
“They look like a line instead of three individuals,” said Therrien.
There was some movement between the Canadiens and their American Hockey League farm club in St. John’s. Dustin Tokarski was recalled to back up Condon. And the Canadiens also called up forward Christian Thomas to give them an extra body.
Defenceman Jarred Tinordi went the other way, heading to the AHL for a two-week conditioning assignment. Tinordi hasn’t played a game since the exhibition schedule and he needs some ice time to (a) show the Canadiens he deserves a chance to play or (b) show another team that he has something to offer. He doesn’t appear to have a future in Montreal, but general manager Marc Bergevin has been reluctant to run the risk of losing him on waivers and hasn’t been able to find a trading partner willing to meet his price.
