The Canadiens are set to get a boost to their lineup tomorrow night as the team announced that goaltender Carey Price will be activated off injured reserve and will get the start against the Sabres. Price has been out of the lineup since sustaining a lower-body injury in the pregame warmup on November 2nd in Minnesota (although he did play that full game).
It will be interesting to see if the time off helps Price revert at least closer to his typical form. Through 11 starts this season, he has posted a 3.77 GAA and a .877 SV%, both career-worsts by a considerable margin. He currently has the highest goals against average among all goalies with at least ten appearances and the second-lowest save percentage.
In a corresponding move, rookie Charlie Lindgren has been sent back down to Laval of the AHL. The rookie has fared quite well since being recalled with a 2.43 GAA and a .924 SV% in nine starts but it’s not ideal to have him on the bench on a regular basis when he is still waiver-exempt.
Recent waiver acquisition Antti Niemi has gotten off to a very tough start to his campaign but played well in his first start with Montreal back on Wednesday and will hold on to the backup spot for the time being. Al Montoya, their other goaltender, remains out indefinitely with a concussion.
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