Carey Price to return vs. Sabres after missing nearly a month

Montreal Canadiens star goaltender Carey Price is set return against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday after missing nearly a month with a lower-body injury, the team announced Friday.

"It's just about getting timing back and getting into the groove again," Price told The Canadian Press.

The 30-year-old suffered the injury in the warmup before the club's Nov. 2 matchup with the Minnesota Wild. He gave up five goals on 26 shots in the 6-3 loss.

The club has gone 4-4-1 with Price sidelined this season.

The Habs' have said the current issue is unrelated to a knee-ligament injury that limited him to 12 appearances and derailed the team's 2015-16 campaign.

In a corresponding move, the Canadiens sent 23-year-old goaltender Charlie Lindgren down to the AHL's Laval Rocket.

The 23-year-old had performed admirably in Price's absence, posting a 2.43 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage.

Meanwhile, Price struggled to start this year, compiling a 3-7-1 record with a 3.77 goals-against average and an .877 save percentage.

Prior to Friday's games, Montreal (8-12-3) stood third-last in the Eastern Conference with 19 points.