Carey Price out a week with lower-body injury for NHL-best Canadiens

Carey Price hasn’t exactly been himself lately.

The reigning Hart and Vezina trophies winner had given up six goals in his first seven games for the Montreal Candadiens, as they sprinted out to their record-setting start. He was good again against the Toronto Maple Leafs even as his team wasn’t, giving up 52 shots as Price surrendered three goals.

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But then he gave up five in a loss at the Vancouver Canucks on 28 shots, and four at the Edmonton Oilers on 27 shots – four consecutive goals, squandering a 3-0 first-period lead en route to a loss.

On Sunday, the Canadiens announced that Price would miss a week with a lower-body injury. Dustin Tokarski was recalled from the AHL; one assumes he’ll back up Mike Condon.

Condon, 25, has been a good story thus far for the Habs. He’s 3-0, having given up five goals on 89 shots (.944 save percentage). As John Benedetti of The Hockey Writers wrote:

Although his outstanding numbers won’t remain constant, Condon will only improve as a goaltender over time. He seems to be a little jumpy or anxious in high-danger scoring situations, causing him to slide out of position often. Staying calm and composed in the crease is easier said than done, but stabilizing that facet of his game would only amplify his case of belonging as a goaltender in the NHL

The Canadiens are 10-2-0 on the season, leading the NHL with 20 points.

Obviously, as Price goes, so go the Canadiens. Hopefully this is just a minor bump and a preventative thing rather than something chronic. Because elite goals and “lower-body injuries” are not something one likes to hear in proximity with each other.

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