Price makes 17 saves in season debut, Canadiens lose to Islanders

MONTREAL -- Carey Price made 17 saves in his season debut, a 3-0 loss for the Montreal Canadiens against the New York Islanders at Bell Centre on Friday.

"It's definitely been a trying season for myself, on a personal level and for the team," Price said. "And to be able to come back and feel somewhat normal, I didn't feel quite normal, but pretty close."
Ilya Sorokin made 44 saves and tied an Islanders record with his seventh shutout in his second of back-to-back starts. Semyon Varlamov was unable to play because of a non-COVID illness. Sorokin made 22 saves in a 6-3 loss at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.
Zach Parise and Noah Dobson scored 1:44 apart in the third period for New York (35-30-9), which mourned the loss of Islanders great Mike Bossy, who died of cancer at the age of 65 on Friday.
"Mike was a class act," Islanders forward Josh Bailey said. "He meant a lot to our community in Long Island and did a lot of good things on and off the ice. It was tough to hear that news. Obviously our condolences and thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and loved ones at this time. That was difficult to hear. We were certainly motivated tonight, obviously they were as well. It was nice to get a big win here, and Sorokin, what more can you say, he stood on his head."

Price made his first start since Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on July 7 for Montreal (20-44-11), which outshot New York 44-20 in its seventh loss in nine games.
"Going into the game I felt ready and prepared mentally and physically, and obviously the reception was great," Price said.
Parise gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 4:25 of the third period. He shot over Price's pad on Mathew Barzal's return pass to complete a 3-on-0 rush with four Canadiens in pursuit after Islanders forward Kieffer Bellows forced a turnover by defenseman Corey Schueneman.
"I was a little surprised," Parise said. "I corralled the puck and looked across and saw both of those guys there. I could tell 'Barzy' really wanted that puck. Our conversion rate hasn't been very high on 2-on-0s this year, so I wanted to get it to him. He was coming down the middle and I let him make the decision. I was ready for him to send it back, I just had a good feeling that he was going to send that back. I already knew Bellows had a touch on it, so I wanted to get 'Barzy' involved too."

Dobson made it 2-0 at 6:09 when he scored on a wrist shot past Price stick side. It was his first goal since March 3 (23 games). Brock Nelson scored into an empty net with 1:39 remaining for the 3-0 final.
Price's name was chanted within the first 30 seconds of the game and he was cheered every time he touched the puck in the early going after he was given a long standing ovation when his name was announced in the starting lineup.
"It was a lot of fun, obviously it was heartwarming," Price said. "It made me feel really wanted. It was definitely emotional, but I was able to stifle that and stay focused because I wanted to play well tonight."
Montreal's all-time leader in wins (360) and games played by a goalie (708), Price had arthroscopic knee surgery July 23 to repair a torn meniscus. He resumed skating Sept. 16 but entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program for substance use Oct. 7.
"I think he's been the heart and soul of this organization for a long time," Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. "He's been a reason why they've had some great playoff runs and great teams. It all starts there. You find a great team, there's usually a really good goaltender. He came here as a young kid, highly touted, and he's delivered."

Montreal plays the Washington Capitals on Saturday. St. Louis said he will leave it to Price to determine when he plays the rest of the way, but it wouldn't be right to use him back to back, so Sam Montembeault will start.
NOTES:Price went 282 days between starts, the third time in his NHL career that he has gone as long from one start to the next. He had a 330-day span from Nov. 25, 2015 to Oct. 20, 2016 and a 295-day stretch from March 30, 2012 to Jan. 19, 2013. … Price is the sixth goalie to play for the Canadiens this season, a team record (Jake Allen, Montembeault, Cayden Primeau, Andrew Hammond, Michael McNiven). … A moment of silence was observed in Bossy's memory before the game. … Goalie Ken Appleby dressed as New York's backup. He was recalled on an emergency basis from Worcester of the ECHL, which played at Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, on Friday. … Dobson's goal was his 11th, tying for the most by an Islanders defenseman since Mark Streit scored 16 goals in 74 games in 2008-09. … Parise has four goals in a three-game goal streak. … Nelson scored two points to set an NHL career high with 56 (54, 2019-20). … Sorokin tied Varlamov (2020-21) and Glenn Resch (1975-76) and for the most shutouts in a season for the Islanders.