The Montreal Canadiens recieved a major blow today as head coach Michel Therrien has announced that star goaltender Carey Price is out for the series against the New York Rangers with a lower body injury.

The injury was suffered in the Canadiens game one loss to the Rangers when Chris Kreider collided with Price. Price stayed in the game, but allowed two more goals before being pulled at the end of the second period.

Backup Peter Budaj allowed three power play goals to the Rangers early in the third period after replacing Price. The Canadiens also have Bulldogs goaltender Dustin Tokarski up with the team.

Canadiens players weren’t happy with Kreider’s hit on Price.

“Everybody says it’s accidental, but it’s accidental on purpose,” said Habs forward Brandon Prust on Sunday. “He did nothing to really avoid him. We’re in the NHL. We know how to fall, how to not put our skates first when we fall. He did the same thing against (Marc-André) Fleury in the last series. I mean, he’s not doing anything to avoid him. It’s not totally intentional, but he doesn’t do anything to lighten it up a bit.”

“He was falling, and he knew he was going to hit Pricer, and he was like, oh, well, I’ll hit him,” said Brendan Gallagher.

Price was brilliant in leading the Canadiens to a seven-game win over the Boston Bruins in the second round. Michel Therrien said today that the team had lost their best player.

For the latest sports injury news, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.

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