Canadiens' Price set to make season debut

The wait is over.

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price will make his season debut Thursday against the Arizona Coyotes as he returns after a lengthy battle with the flu, head coach Michel Therrien announced.

Price missed the club's first three games of the season after a flu bug left him quarantined in his own home and caused him to lose between seven and eight pounds.

The former Vezina Trophy winner returned to practice on Wednesday where Therrien admitted he couldn't wait to have Price back in the net.

Al Montoya took on the starting roll in Price's absence and fared admirably posting a 2-0-1 record with a 1.3 goals-against average, a .962 save percentage, and one shutout.

Price's start will mark his first with the Canadiens since Nov. 25 of last year after he suffered a devastating MCL sprain that caused him to miss the rest of the season.