Price is at home and is being treated for a severe case of the flu and a fever. Veteran backup Al Montoya, who signed as an unrestricted free agent to a one-year deal July 1, will start. He made 30 saves in a 4-1 victory against the Buffalo Sabres in the Canadiens' season opener on Thursday.
"He was strong at the right time," Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty said of Montoya. "I think that's what this team needs and needed. A veteran like him, those goalies that have success, who know how to win, it's the timeliness of those saves, when a team needs a pickup and that's what I saw last game.
"That kind of gives the boys a little bit more adrenaline to play in front of him and play well in front of him because of that."
Price has not played a regular season game since Nov. 25, 2015 when he sprained the MCL in his right knee. He returned to help Team Canada to the title at the World Cup of Hockey 2016 earlier this month.
The Canadiens will make one lineup change. Defenseman Jeff Petry will return from a knee injury and replace rookie Mikhail Sergachev.
"(Petry) is an important part of our success," Canadiens coach Michel Therrien said. "We had a tremendous start (this past season). Obviously, Carey was there, but (Petry) was a big part. The fact that we lost Carey and we lost Jeff (he required sports hernia surgery in February), the focus was on Carey, but as a team, (Petry) has such an important role. He's a good skater, he defends well and he moves the puck."
Senators coach Guy Boucher said he will use the same lineup which defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 in overtime on Wednesday.
Craig Anderson will start in goal. He made 34 saves against the Maple Leafs.
The Senators, who were last in the NHL last season (32.8 shots against) under former coach Dave Cameron, will try to cut down on that number. Ottawa allowed 38 shots and 81 shot attempts against the Maple Leafs.
"There's definitely going to be growing pains early in the year," Senators captain Erik Karlsson said. "There are going to be things that are not mistakes, but a little bit of confusion in the decision making sometimes in what you're going to do and what you want to do. That's nothing new for us."
