Excerpt from the Slamsports/CP article by Bill Beacon:


Goaltender Carey Price says it is sheer coincidence that the new, flaming red pads he wore in practice on Monday go perfectly with the NHL Eastern Conference all-star team uniform.

“They have the Habs logo – they just happen to match really well,” said Price, one of four Canadiens that ballot box-stuffing Montreal fans voted onto the starting lineup for the all-star game on Sunday at the Bell Centre. “I’ll wear them next game.”

Price is back on the ice after missing eight games with a sprained ankle.

There had been doubts the 21-year-old would be ready to play in the all-star game or that it would be wise to risk aggravating the injury in a meaningless exhibition.

But he has the green light from the trainers, and from Guy Carbonneau, although the coach would rather not have him take part in Saturday’s all-star skills competition – an event that may call for more acrobatic manoeuvres in the crease than the gently played all-star game.