Just a day after being named to Team Canada's 16-man preliminary roster for the World Cup of Hockey, Price was back on the ice in full equipment, facing shots for the first time since suffering the ailment.
There's still no timetable for his return, but it appears as though last year's Hart Trophy winner is another step closer to returning to the crease for the Montreal Canadiens.
The 28-year-old posted an impressive record of 10-2-0 with a 2.06 GAA and .934 save percentage before going down with the injury.
On Jan. 20, the Los Angeles Kings were cruising atop the Pacific Division, with 61 points and a cushy nine-point lead over the San Jose Sharks. The Arizona Coyotes occupied third place in the division, while the struggling Anaheim Ducks sat outside of a playoff spot, 16 points back of their division-leading rivals.
The Kings have seen their lead atop the Pacific evaporate completely, sitting tied with the Ducks at 78 points with just 20 games remaining. To put the improbable shift into context, Anaheim has managed to make up 16 points in just 18 games.
Team
On Jan. 20
Since Jan. 20
Los Angeles Kings
29-13-3
8-8-1
Anaheim Ducks
19-8-7
16-1-1
The Ducks are without a doubt the hottest team in the league right now, sporting a record of 16-1-1 - highlighted by nine consecutive victories - over the past six weeks. They've received help from the Kings, as well.
Here's how Anaheim's impressive resurgence occurred:
The Perron-Hagelin Trade
The Ducks traded forward Carl Hagelin to the Pittsburgh Penguins for forward David Perron on Jan. 16. The exchange paid immediate dividends, sparking a significant change in Anaheim.
Perron recorded points in five of his first six games with the Ducks, and has continued to produce at an impressive clip. After recording just four goals and 12 assists in 43 games with the Penguins, the 27-year-old has tallied seven goals and 10 assists over 19 contests in Anaheim.
With the sudden addition of a near point-per-game producer, the Ducks were able to split up stars Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, creating a much more well-rounded top six. It also allowed iron man Andrew Cogliano to drop down a spot, forming a solid third line.
First half of the season, Ducks averaged 1.85 goals/game, last in NHL. Since All-Star break, averaging 3.69, first in NHL.
The trade has benefited the team's top players. This is best exemplified in Getzlaf's resurgence since Perron joined him on the No. 1 unit:
Players
Games
Goals
Assists
Points
Ryan Getzlaf
19
6
20
26
Corey Perry
19
10
8
18
David Perron
19
7
10
17
Ryan Kesler
19
5
10
15
Rickard Rakell
19
7
7
14
Sami Vatanen
19
3
9
12
With a 16-2-1 record - including a loss in the first game - since Perron joined the lineup, the Ducks are a much better team than they were with Hagelin. They should be even better with the trade-deadline additions of Jamie McGinn and Brandon Pirri.
The Kings Have Stopped Scoring
The Kings have indirectly done their part to contribute to the Ducks' resurgence. They've been treading water for well over a month, and have a disappointing record of 8-8-1 over their last 17 games. An alarming trend has developed during their recent stretch of mediocre play: They can't seem to put the puck in the back of the net.
Los Angeles has scored just 12 goals in its last eight games. In fact, the club's five leading point producers - Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Tyler Toffoli, Jeff Carter, and Milan Lucic - have combined for just three goals during that span. This low-scoring trend dates back to Jan. 20:
Player
Games
Goals Since Jan. 20
Anze Kopitar
16
5
Drew Doughty
17
3
Tyler Toffoli
17
2
Jeff Carter
17
2
Milan Lucic
17
2
Jonathan Quick has been solid, leading the Kings to four wins in their last five games, despite them averaging just two goals during that stretch. But their scoring woes are an indication they could very well continue to fall in the standings, perhaps even below the Sharks, who are four points back.
The Ducks and Kings will play each other in two more games before the end of the season, beginning Saturday in Los Angeles. If the past six weeks serve as any indication, Anaheim appears primed to win the Pacific for the fourth year in a row since the lockout-shortened season in 2012-13.
If the trend continues for the final 20 games of the season, Los Angeles will face a tough opening-round matchup versus San Jose, while Anaheim would very likely go up against a more favorable opponent in the Nashville Predators. While it's no easy consolation, it's a stunning and unlikely outcome of an amazing resurgence.
NEW YORK, N.Y. - For Wayne Gretzky, there's something special about the number 99.
The NHL's all-time scoring champion has a deal with G.P. Putnam's Sons for a book about the game's history and his own place in it. Putnam told The Associated ...
Check out the most recent post-trade deadline Oilers speculation. EDMONTON SUN: Following the recent NHL trade deadline, Terry Jones wondered why Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli didn’t ship out disappointing right wing Nail Yakupov. Jones notes the Oilers didn’t exactly showcase Yakupov during the game before deadline day, leaving him on the fourth line. He speculates […]
Notable snubs from the World Cup of Hockey roster selections and more in your NHL morning coffee headlines. NHL HIGHLIGHTS. CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Patrick Kane and Brent Seabrook each had a goal and two assists and Artemi Panarin scored twice to lead the Chicago Blackhawks to a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, moving them […]
BRANDON, Man. - Jayce Hawryluk had five goals — including a natural hat trick to close out the third period — to power the Brandon Wheat Kings past the Saskatoon Blades 12 -2 on Wednesday in Western Hockey League action.
John Quenneville had ...
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Jamie McGinn scored in his Ducks debut, Jakob Silfverberg got the only goal in the shootout, and Anaheim beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Wednesday night for its ninth consecutive victory.
Corey Perry scored the tying powe...
Gibson earned his fourth straight win and seventh victory in his last nine games, while the Ducks improved to 35-19-8 and 16-1-1 in their last 18 contests.
Alex Galchenyuk provided all of the offense for the Canadiens in regulation, and the 22-year-old forward now has five goals in his last four games.
Ducks forward Jamie McGinn scored his first goal with Anaheim since being acquired from the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.
The Canadiens lost their second straight game and third in the last five.
WASHINGTON - Matt Niskanen and the NHL's top power play unit cashed in as the Washington Capitals outlasted the youthful and overmatched Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Wednesday night.
The Capitals reached 98 points for the season and matched the...
FLINT, Mich. - Mathieu Henderson scored in overtime and added two assists in regulation to lead the Flint Firebirds past the Saginaw Spirit 6-5 on Wednesday in Ontario Hockey League action.
Will Bitten and Luke Kirwan both scored on the power...
