Carey Price has re-injured himself; out for six weeks

Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) blocks a shot attempt by New York Rangers center Oscar Lindberg (24) as Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban (76) looks for the rebound during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Nov. 25, 2015, in New York. (Julie Jacobson / AP Photo)

Carey Price has re-injured himself and will not be able to play hockey for at least another six weeks.

The Canadiens goalie was first injured in October and missed a month of hockey before returning to the ice on Nov. 22.

In his third game back, on Nov. 25, Price left the nets following the second period and did not return.

The team first said he would be gone for a week, then on Friday RDS reported he would be away for a month.

The Canadiens are now saying that Price's injury will take at least six weeks to heal, and that he will not require surgery.

"Any injury can reoccur. Any time you step on the ice you can get hurt. But when he's back he'll be 100 percent whenever that is," said the team's general manager Marc Bergevin.

There is much speculation about exactly how Price is injured, but the Canadiens are only saying that Price has a lower body injury.

There are reports Price has injured his right knee and may have torn ligaments or his meniscus, while others speculate he has torn a muscle.

In the meantime Mike Condon, who was not on the Canadiens roster in September, will continue to be the lead goalie for the Canadiens.

The 25-year-old rookie is feeling confident.

"I'm feeling a lot more calm. Calm mind, calm body. Quieting the mind and going out there and having fun," said Condon.

Captain Max Pacioretty said the team will have to get used to playing without Price, and have to learn not to be as reliant on the best goalie in the league.

"He was coming back in a short amount of time. Now that it's a long time, a big chunk of the year, is six weeks. It's a good test for us and it starts tomorrow," said Pacioretty.

Winger Dale Weise agreed that Price's absence may force the Habs to play better as a team.

"This might work out in our hands as it goes longer in the year here and Carey doesn't have to play 70 games, this actually might be better for us.

That said, defenceman Nathan Beaulieu was among those expressing confidence in their number one backup.

"We have a lot of faith in Condon. Why shouldn't we? He's been so solid in the games he's played. It's time for us to elevate."

Bergevin also expressed that confidence in Condon, saying he is one of many players he has seen step up upon arriving in the NHL.

"I think Mike said it and it's public, that the day when we brought him to the conference final and he saw how hard these guys work to be a pro just to get a chance and that might have been the turning point in his career," said Bergevin.

With Price not due to return before mid-January Bergevin also said he has no plans to trade either Condon or Dustin Tokarski -- or add a third goalie to the roster.