Montreal Canadiens superstar goaltender Carey Price skated by himself earlier this week and is "doing better," according to coach Dominique Ducharme.
With Price and Jake Allen out, Samuel Montembeault and Cayden Primeau have been the crease crew for the Canadiens.
Price, 34, voluntarily entered the NHL's player assistance program more than a month ago. After returning to the Canadiens on Nov. 10, the goaltender issued a statement through the team and also posted it to his Instagram account saying he entered a residential treatment facility for his substance use.
Price rejoined the Habs on Nov. 7 but has yet to practise with the team. Instead, he has met with the team's athletic trainers to come up with a plan to get back into shape after having knee surgery on July 22 after leading Montreal to the Stanley Cup final. He met with his teammates last week for the first time since entering the program.
Ducharme also said defenceman Joel Edmundson could start non-contact practice at Saturday's morning skate but isn't ready to return just yet, while forward Mathieu Perreault needed another eye surgery and his return has been delayed by a few more weeks.
The Canadiens announced 21-year-old defenceman Mattias Norlinder will make his NHL debut Thursday when Montreal takes on the Pittsburgh Penguins.
