Montreal Canadiens goalkeeper Carey Price lost to the New Yorkers on Friday night, but playing his first NHL game since July 7, 2021, did not hurt Bell Center's positive emotions.
The Merchant saved 17 times in the 3-0 defeat to the Isles, in the playoffs of the two teams.
"For me, it was a season of struggle for the team at my own level. "I'm not normal, but I'm very close."
Montreal has not appeared in the NHL game since Game 5 of Game of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final due to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The next several months were marked by commodity prices. He underwent knee surgery during the season. He omitted the inactive section of the Seattle Kraken expansion draft, He did not take his big contract, thinking that Seattle would prevent him from being selected. On October 7, Price volunteered for the NHL / NHLPA Player Assistance Program, which he described as a drug abuse.
"For the last few years I have been in a very dark place and I did not have the tools to deal with that struggle," Price said at the time.
Price returned to Canadiens in late 2021, but his return trip was fraught with inconveniences, including a longer recovery than expected from his surgery and a COVID-related disease.
“I work very hard. "It's not just about me, it's about the training staff."
Canadiens's reluctant return was welcomed by his teammates.
"I've been incredibly happy to have him tonight and finally started the game. He has been a big part of our team and it has been difficult for him," said Montreal winger Paul Byron. "She is calm and has a calm demeanor, but I know what that means for him and for his family."
Price's family is attending his return to the NHL. His father, Lincoln, greeted him during the warm-up, as he watched his father play for the first time.
"I think he took off his mask and a few things," Price said with a laugh. "It simply came to my notice then.
There was a momentary increase in price throughout the game for the price. When his name was announced as a goalkeeper, he stood up and received awards.
"It's so much fun. It's so enjoyable. I think it makes me feel good," he said.
The seller saved his first 3 minutes and 32 seconds with a shot from Kyle Palmieri of Ireland. The crowd applauded the moment. After the last ring, After the victory, Canadians skied to pay their own respects to Price. The rest of the Bell Center fans gave Price another ovation and raised the stick in gratitude.
This is Price's 15th NHL season. He has a career record of 360-257-79 in 707 games with Canadians. Price won the NHL MVP as the league's top scorer in 2014-15, winning the Hadroff and Vezina awards.
The price is set at an average annual contract value of $ 10.5 million during the 2025-26 season. It was a difficult season for Canadiens, who ran to the Stanley Cup Final for the 20-44-11 season to finish last at the Eastern Conference.
Price says it is difficult for him when he can not help his teammates.
"I missed a lot. When any athlete is injured, you are part of the team, but you will be told that you are not part of the process," he said. "It's not easy to be part of the solution."
Canada have seven games left in their season.