While Carey Price missed 10 games due to a lower-body injury, he Montreal Canadiens didn't drown. With a 4-4-2 record, Montreal actually earned more points when Price was out (10) than it did when he was in for the first 13 games of the season (nine). Price had a bad start, uncharacteristic of the Canadiens franchise goaltender, whom Montreal was hoping with a clean bill of health could return to the lineup and be a difference maker.
Price made that return Saturday, and stopped all 36 shots the Buffalo Sabres fired at him in a 3-0 Canadiens win.
Though Price look the part of a goaltender who had not played in over three weeks, over-aggressive in some of his motions and off on some of his angles.
Price settled in though, and after stopping 10 shots in the first, came up big in the second period with 15 saves, many of those made with Montreal clinging to a 1-0 lead.
The shutout was Price's first of the season, and the 40th of his career. Jonathan Drouin assisted on the Canadiens first two goals Saturday, matching his point total from the previous seven games, his fourth multi-point game this season.