Islanders face goalie Carey Price on his return to the Canadiens' lineup
In this Wednesday, July 7, 2021 file photo, Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price (31) plays the puck during the first period in Game 5 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning, in Tampa, Fla. Credit: AP/Phelan Ebenhack
MONTREAL — Anthony Beauvillier received a bunch of text messages from local friends forewarning him about how loud the crowd at Bell Centre would be on Friday night.
The Islanders happened to be in town for Carey Price’s first game of the season as the future Hall of Fame returned to the Canadiens’ lineup following a tumultuous personal trek.
“He’s been one of their best players for a long time,” said Beauvillier, who grew up in nearby Sorel-Tracy, Quebec. “Just the excitement around him and the team is cool to see. He’s a great goalie.”
Price last played on July 7 when the Canadiens lost the decisive Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final to the Lightning. He voluntarily entered the NHL/NHL Players’ Association player assistance program on Oct. 7, acknowledging he needed to seek treatment for substance abuse.
He was also trying to recover from offseason knee surgery and was dealt several physical setbacks after trying to start his comeback. Price resumed practicing with the Canadiens on a full-time basis earlier this month.
Islanders coach Barry Trotz worked previously with Price through Hockey Canada.
“The thing that stood out about Carey for me — Hall of Fame goaltender, no question — is the presence,” Trotz said. “When he’s in the net, you feel like you can win all the time. You feel like you have an advantage. I think, around the league, that’s how he’s viewed. He’s a difference maker.”
Trotz said as he raised his children, he would try to take them to varied events — sports, concerts or otherwise — so they could experience special performers.
“For these star players in the league, there are kids and future hockey fans that they may be the inspiration to,” said Trotz, adding he feels that way about coaching future Hall of Fame defenseman Zdeno Chara this season.
“You never want superstars not to be in the league. Any time that you have star players playing in the league, if they’re coming back from injury, which Carey is and different things he’s gone through this year, it is good for the league. Because they bring a cache, they bring a presence. Having star players, they’re very valuable for the league and the fan experience.”
Notes & quotes: Semyon Varlamov (non-COVID-19 illness) was unavailable so Ken Appleby was brought up on emergency recall from the Islanders’ ECHL affiliate Worcester — which happened to be nearby in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec — to back up Ilya Sorokin . . . Equipment manager Scott Boggs worked his 2,000th NHL game. He joined the Islanders in 2006 after breaking into the league a year earlier as an assistant with Chicago.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
