In a big blow to Montreal's chances of making the Stanley Cup
final, Canadiens coach Michel Therrien said Price would sit out
the rest of the best-of-seven series.
"We've lost our best player, but we've faced adversity this year
already," Therrien told reporters on Monday.
Price, who helped lead Canada to the gold medal in the Sochi
Winter Olympics, was injured when he collided with Rangers
forward Chris Kreider during Saturday's series opener.
Kreider lost his footing and crashed feet-first into Price, who
was left writhing in pain, clutching his right knee.
He played through to the end of the period but gave up four
goals and did not return to the ice for the final period as the
Rangers took the game 7-2.
"I'm really disappointed," Therrien said before Monday's second
game in Montreal.
"Obviously he's our best player. Looking at the incident, it's a
reckless play. That's the truth. It’s not the first time he’s
gone at goalies.”
Kreider said he done nothing wrong, but said he did have one
regret.
"I think I'm a clean player," he said. "I don't go out with the
intent to hurt anyone ever.
"I look back on it and think I wish I would've put it into the
net," he added.
Therrien declined to reveal who would start in goal for Game 2
although it was likely to be either Peter Budaj, who gave up
three goals on five shots when replaced Price for the final
period on Saturday, or Dustin Tokarski, who played in the
American Hockey League this season.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; editing by
Julian Linden)
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