Carey Price skates in full equipment for first time since re-joining Canadiens

Carey Price took another important step in his return to game action by skating with full goalie equipment Wednesday for the first time since he re-joined the Montreal Canadiens last month.

Price had been skating without equipment since the end of November. The 34-year-old is recovering from off-season knee surgery, and missed a month of training after he voluntarily entered the NHL’s player assistance program in early October.

On Monday, head coach Dominique Ducharme said it was “unlikely” that Price would see game action before the Christmas break. Ducharme re-confirmed that expectation Wednesday and said Price’s next steps will focus on “more movement in the crease” followed by taking shots in practice.

Price remains in contention for a spot on Canada’s men’s Olympic roster for February’s Winter Games in Beijing, but Team Canada GM Doug Armstrong said Tuesday that “the runway is getting shorter and shorter.”

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