Canadiens goaltender Carey Price to make season debut Friday vs. Islanders

The Montreal Canadiens have been eliminated from playoff contention for weeks but nevertheless shared arguably the best news of their season ahead of the weekend. 

Per the NHL's website, Montreal coach Martin St. Louis has confirmed that star goaltender Carey Price will make his season debut Friday versus the New York Islanders at Bell Centre. 

It's been a long road back for Price, who last played in the 1-0 loss at the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final back on July 7. The 34-year-old was set to miss the start of the 2021-22 campaign recovering from offseason knee surgery but then entered the NHL/NHL Players' Association player assistance program on Oct. 7 due to substance use. 

It was later announced on Jan. 17 that Price experienced a physical setback and was restarting his knee rehabilitation. He only started traveling with the Canadiens for road contests last week. 

"A player's success, for a fan, is judged on the ice," St. Louis said of Price when speaking with reporters on Friday. "But for a player, there are a lot of things he has to do to be successful on the ice. And often those things are done alone. There's no one to encourage you, no one watching you, but those are the most important moments for an athlete to have success on the ice and the fans behind you. 

"So with what Carey has been through and the work that he has put in, it's fun to see where he is now and that he's ready to play. So we're really happy to have him. It will bring a boost to the team and I'm looking forward to seeing this."

According to Greg Wyshynski of ESPN, Montreal teammate and friend Brendan Gallagher added: 

"It's been a long, long road for him. He's eager to get in there. It's nice to see him on game day. It's something he's working incredibly hard for. So in front of him, we have to give a good effort and hopefully win a hockey game."

Price's status beyond Friday is unclear. Montreal will next host the Washington Capitals on Saturday.