Cary Price not yet ready to return between pipes for Montreal Canadiens

Main pic: In this Nov. 20, 2015, file photo, Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price stops a shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders in New York. The Montreal Canadiens say star goaltender Carey Price is not ready to return to the ice as he continues to recover from a lower-body injury. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ AP/Paul Bereswill.

MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens say star goaltender Carey Price is not ready to return to the ice as he continues to recover from a lower-body injury.

Coach Michel Therrien said after Montreal’s practice Monday that Price’s rehab is going well, but he’s not ready to resume skating.

Price has been out of action since leaving in the second period of Montreal’s Nov. 25 game in New York. The Canadiens said Price would be out a minimum of six weeks when initially announcing the injury on Nov. 30, which would have placed his return at sometime next week. That now seems unlikely.

Montreal has struggled without its star goaltender, going 5-11-1 in Price’s absence.

Recently acquired goaltender Ben Scrivens will start for Montreal on Tuesday at Philadelphia.

The Canadian Press