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Habs Report: Harris Returns, Petry Game-Time Decision Against Toronto

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2 years ago

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Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens announced that veteran defenceman Jeff Petry would be a game-time decision, while rookies Jordan Harris and Micheal Pezzetta would be drawing back into the lineup, as the Canadiens prepare for their tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Canadiens announced Kale Clague, Jesse Ylönen and Corey Schueneman would be the scratches tonight, provided everyone is deemed healthy by puck drop.

The Canadiens also confirmed that Jake Allen would be starting in net tonight, meaning Carey Price is not quite ready to make his return for the Bleu Blanc Rouge.

Patient Approach With Jordan Harris 

Harris was a healthy scratch Thursday night against the New Jersey Devils but Montreal Canadiens interim head coach Martin St. Louis stressed that this was not a coaching decision based on performance. Instead, as St. Louis said he’s doing with multiple players at this point of the season, it was to help the 21-year-old Harris learn and see things from a different perspective after his first two games in the NHL.

“He’s not coming out of the lineup. …I mean, the same reason that ‘Wides’ [Chris Wideman] did not come out of the lineup because he was playing poorly, Jordan’s not coming out of the lineup because he’s playing poorly,” St. Louis explained. “We have a lot of guys here that need to touch the ice in game action, and you can take this opportunity now for Jordan to look back on his two games and now watch a game after playing a couple, and see himself in certain situations that happen on the ice, and he might think of it differently after playing two games, and how he thought of it before playing those two games, and from him watching tonight, how he would handle those situations.

 

Jeff Petry Could Return For Montreal Canadiens

Jeff Petry has been out with a lower-body injury since, March 21st, when he did not come back for the third period of the game for the Canadiens against the Boston Bruins. Petry remained in Montreal while the team went on their last lengthy road trip of the season in order to rehab his injury and prepare to make a return. Calling it quits on the season and heading home was never in the cards; Jeff Petry was adamant about coming back and finishing the last few games this season.

Although Petry isn’t yet at 100%, he absolutely wants to come back and play for the Montreal Canadiens this season. He will be a game-time decision tonight, but all signs point to the veteran defenceman being able to join his teammates on the ice against the Maple Leafs.

 

Carey Price Continues to Progress

Carey Price has been putting his knee to the test before he’s set to make his eventual return for Montreal. After practice yesterday, Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis said to journalists that it would be Price’s decision as to when he will be ready to play his first game for the Montreal Canadiens this season.

“I think Carey’s going to let us know when he feels it’s the time,” the Habs interim bench boss said. “He’s going to let us know when he’s ready.”

Price has worked hard to get to this point and that and his stature as one of the best goalies in the history of the NHL is why Price’s return date will be his decision.

“It’s hard work. It’s not just physical hard work; I think mentally he probably got challenged this year in terms of just staying sane, taking a step forward and then a couple of steps back,” noted St-Louis. “Sometimes, it’s hard to find some clarity through that process, but Carey, since I came on board, I feel he’s been a pro about it and trying to take care of every day the best he can.”

However, knowing the competitor that is Carey Price and seeing the way he’s moving out there at practice, one can’t help but speculate that Montreal’s game against the Jets at home on Monday night wouldn’t be the perfect time for the club’s franchise goaltender to make his return.

Montreal Canadiens Practice Notes

The Canadiens also announced that Nick Suzuki  would not be at practice today, instead opting for therapy days. Although he is a little banged up at the moment, the expectation is that Nick Suzuki should be healthy enough to suit up for the Montreal Canadiens to do battle with Auston Matthews and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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