Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price says he is confident he'll be able to play again this season.
Price has been out with a lower-body injury since Nov. 25 and has seen the Canadiens drift out of playoff contention after the team started the year with nine consecutive victories.
The all-star goalie spoke to reporters Thursday, a day after being named to Canada's roster for the World Cup of Hockey. He said he feels his return to play after being injured in late October had nothing to do with his second injury, sustained in late November.
There haven't been any setbacks in rehab, he said, but the injury is taking longer to heal than was first expected.
Price says he is looking forward to the World Cup of Hockey, being held in Toronto this fall, because he loves representing his country.
"Obviously I wanted to be named to the team," he said. "It's an honour to have the opportunity to represent your country. It's going to be a fun tournament."
Price was named along with the Washington Capitals' Braden Holtby and Corey Crawford of the Chicago Blackhawks. He gave up only three goals in six games in the Sochi Olympics two years ago.
Even if Price returns and has a strong close to the season, don't expect him at the World Championships, which begin at the beginning of May. He’ll be a new dad by then – his wife Angela is due April 29.
Quick quotes
When asked whether he intended to come back and play this season:
"It's never been a goal for me to not play. ... I love playing hockey and I want to be out there as quickly as possible. It's not a matter of protecting me, I'm going to play regardless so I'd rather do it sooner than later."
When asked how confident he is that he'll play this year:
"I'm pretty confident."
On taking some shots (fired by David Desharnais, who is also injured):
"It felt great. I haven't seen a shot for three months, so to be able to go back on the ice and put in real work is a lot of fun for me."
On what he's learned about himself after being out for so long:
"It's been very difficult. Obviously I've been dealt a very bad hand, being injured, and it being longer than I was expecting. It's been really difficult mentally but at the same time, being able to keep driving every day and keep your mind and mentality on your goal, that's been one of the big reasons I've been able to keep pushing."
On P.K. Subban being left off 16-man roster for World Cup of Hockey:
"It's not the final roster. Those four guys are studs that they did pick and they can't take that away from those four guys. He's an elite defenceman and there's still an opportunity to make the team."
-- with files from CTV Montreal