Timeline: Price's nightmare season

On Wednesday morning, the Montreal Canadiens shut down both Carey Price and PK Subban for the rest of the season, cementing one of their most miserable campaigns in recent memory. Check out a timeline of the Price's season to forget. 

 

Oct. 7-26 - The Habs are Hot

The Canadiens won their first nine games of the season for their best start in franchise history, with Price between the pipes for seven of those games. After nearly sweeping the NHL awards last season, including the Hart Trophy, Price was in store for another terrific year and the Stanley Cup was in conversation.

 

Oct. 29 - Price goes down against the Oilers

The Canadiens played the Edmonton Oilers in the middle contest of a three-game West Coast road swing. Price and the Habs had just lost to the Vancouver Canucks 5-1 two nights earlier to snap their nine-game winning streak to start the season. In this game, Montreal allowed three goals in the third period to lose 4-3.

 

Nov. 1 - Price out at least a week with lower-body injury

Head coach Michel Therrien announced Price would miss at least a week with a lower-body injury suffered against the Oilers.

 

Nov. 2 - NHL names Price second star of October

After posting a 7-2 record with a 2.01 goals-against average and .936 save percentage with a pair of shutouts, the NHL awarded Price with the second star of the month of October.

 

Oct. 30 to Nov. 7 - Habs stay sharp without Price

The Habs go 4-0-1 with rookie goalie Mike Condon in net.

 

Nov. 10 - More bad news for Price

Montreal announces their star goalie will be gone for another week with a lower-body injury. Price got a second opinion from a New York-area doctor and received the same diagnosis as the team doctor.

"He was worried a bit," said head coach Michel Therrien. "The good news is it's the same thing as our doctor (diagnosed) in Montreal. It's good for him, mentally. There's no worry. He's not going to play this week. We hope he'll be able to get on the ice pretty soon, so this is good news."

 

Nov. 20 and 22 - Price makes his return

After Condon and company kept the boat afloat in Price's absence, the reigning Vezina winner made his return between the pipes against the New York Islanders in Brooklyn on Nov. 20. Price allowed three goals on 36 shots as the Habs beat the Isles 5-3. Two nights later, in the back half of a home-and-home, Montreal beat New York again, this time 4-2. The 28-year-old allowed two goals on 23 shots.

 

Nov. 25 - Disaster strikes for the Canadiens

Times were good again for the Habs. They had the best goaltender in the NHL back on their team and were winning games. But their promising season turned on its head on Nov. 25 at Madison Square Garden in a clash against the New York Rangers. Price left the game after two periods after tweaking his lower-body injury. Price has not played since. Despite winning the game 5-1, Montreal has a record of 7-20-1 since that night in New York and has fallen out of a playoff spot. 

 

Nov. 26 - Habs say Price will miss at least a week

The Habs announce Price would miss at least a week after aggravating the same injury that caused him to miss nine games earlier in the season. 

 

Nov. 30 - Price gone for six weeks

After showing no signs of improvement, the Canadiens announce their goalie will be gone for another six weeks, but will not require surgery. Condon and Dustin Tokarski continue to be the goaltenders for the team.

"He's a big part of our team," said P.K. Subban. "But if we think we're going to get any sympathy from the teams we're going to play in the next six weeks, we're not.

"The good thing is we've had to deal with not having Price in the lineup for a little while already and we know what that means. When a key part of your team goes down, everyone has to pull up their socks and be a little better."

 

Jan. 4 - Price still not ready to skate

A full month passes with Price still unable to hit the ice on a pair of skates.

 

Jan. 12-13 - Price skates without equipment

Price returns the ice, but the team has already stated he won't be ready to play before the All-Star Game in Nashville.

 

Jan 21 - The timeline continues to grow

After saying they expected Price to be out at least six weeks on Nov. 30, general manager Marc Bergevin updated Price's status on Jan 21 and also confirmed that Therrien's job was secure.

 

Jan. 26 to Feb. 4 - Price continues light skates with no sign of return

Price, still unable to wear equipment, continues to skate by himself. As the Habs continue to freefall in the standings, there is no sign of his return anytime soon.

 

Feb 26 - Practices in full equipment

Montreal got a positive sign when Price hit the ice in full equipment. The Habs were still hoping to make an attempt for the playoffs during the stretch run at this point of the season. 

 

March 3 - Price says he's confident he'll be able to return this season

"Given the position we're in, it doesn't change anything," he said in a news conference. "I love playing hockey and I want to get out there as quickly as possible. . . I'm going to play regardless. I'd rather do it sooner than later."

"I'm pretty confident [about coming back this season]. I'm not going to make any timelines or anything like that. But as far as the way things are progressing, it's looking pretty good." 

 

April 6 - Habs shut down Price and Subban for remainder of season

The playoff eliminated Canadiens decided it was time to shut down Price for the last two games of the season.

"Although Carey has made excellent progress and is very close to being able to return to competition, he has not presently been cleared to do so. He is expected to make a full recovery over the off-season," said Canadiens’ head physician, Dr. Vincent Lacroix.

They also shelved defenceman PK Subban who had missed a dozen games after suffering a neck injury on March 10.