The Canadiens canceled practice on Monday as a preventative measure, but goalie Charlie Lindgren, who could make his first start since Jan. 15, was one of four players to skate along with forwards Ryan Poehling, Jordan Weal and Jonathan Drouin, who is out with a wrist injury.
"There's a flu going around the team. We're taking precautions," Montreal coach Claude Julien said. "We have a lot of games to play, and with the number of games coming up, it's important to give the players a chance to recover and be ready both mentally and physically."
With Price out, the Canadiens recalled Cayden Primeau from Laval of the American Hockey League on an emergency basis.
The 20-year-old rookie made his NHL debut on Dec. 5, making 32 saves in a 3-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche before earning his first win by making 35 saves in a 3-2 overtime win against the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 11.
Montreal also recalled defenseman Christian Folin from Laval of the AHL.
"We only have six defensemen," Julien said. "If something happens in New Jersey, we need to have players available."
The Canadiens (24-23-7) are 6-3-0 in their past nine games but sit eight points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
