The 34-year-old goalie has not played this season after having surgery July 23. The expected recovery time was 10-12 weeks, but it was announced Jan. 17 that he would have to restart his rehabilitation. There was no timeline for a return.
"These players have a presence on the ice," Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said Saturday. "Being on the ice with Carey Price just as a coach is something special and for the players, I'm sure it's special too. He's a very proven player in the League. He's a veteran and it's fun to see a guy who wasn't with the team for a long time back on the ice with the team.
"It's step number -- I can't say it's No. 1 -- but today is another step and he continues to progress until he eventually plays a game."
Price rejoined the Canadiens on Nov. 9 after entering the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program Oct. 7 for substance use. He skated with the Canadiens on Nov. 17.
Price, helped the Canadiens reach the Stanley Cup Final last season, when he was 13-9 with a 2.28 goals-against average and .924 save percentage in 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Montreal lost the Stanley Cup Final to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games. He was 12-7-5 with a 2.64 GAA and .901 save percentage in 25 regular-season games.
"There's a lot going on over the next couple of weeks that will determine the rest of my season," Price said Jan. 31. "… I'm not a fortune teller. I'm just trying to stick to the process that's at hand, and that's trying to get back on the ice and see how it feels when I get back into a game situation."
The Canadiens (17-36-9) are last in the NHL standings and have given up the most goals per game (3.77).
Montreal has used five goalies this season; Jake Allen, Sam Montembeault, Andrew Hammond, Cayden Primeau and Michael McNiven.
Allen made 29 saves Saturday in a 5-1 victory against the Ottawa Senators for his first win since Nov. 27. He returned Thursday after being out two months because of a lower-body injury sustained Jan. 12.
NHL.com independent correspondent Sean Farrell contributed to this report
