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Habs’ Price to miss third straight game

Carey Price, David Booth,

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price makes a save against Vancouver Canucks’ David Booth during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, in Montreal. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Graham Hughes)

AP

Carey Price’s Olympic hangover will rage on for another game.

The Montreal Canadiens starting goalie will miss his third straight game with a lower-body injury on Saturday night when the Habs host the Toronto Maple Leafs. As NHL.com shares, Canadiens coach Michel Therrien isn’t overly concerned with his status in spite of missing each game since returning from Sochi.

“It’s day-to-day,” Therrien told reporters after an optional practice on Friday. “We shouldn’t make it sound worse than it is. One thing’s for sure, when Carey comes back he’ll be 100 percent. It’s pointless at this point in the season to put him in, even if it’s a very important time of the year. He wouldn’t be able to play. We’re confident that with treatment he’ll come back pretty soon.”

That’s a different spin on the old “if this was a playoff game, he’d be in there” way of thinking. Montreal is six points behind Boston for the Atlantic Division lead and two points ahead of Tampa Bay and Toronto. Getting Price back healthy will help them in that mix, but for now it’s up to Peter Budaj to hold down the fort.

Budaj will get the start against Toronto tonight and face off against Jonathan Bernier for the Leafs.

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