The Montreal Canadiens have already had to deal with a nine-game stretch without star goaltender Carey Price so far this season.

But now they will have to get by without him for much longer.

The Canadiens announced on Monday that Price will be out at least six weeks with a lower-body injury that he sustained during a 5-1 win over the Rangers in New York last week.

He will not require surgery. Last season's Hart and Vezina Trophy winner is expected to miss at least 16 games, with only a slim chance he could return for the Winter Classic outdoor game against the Boston Bruins on Jan 1 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

"He's a big part of our team," star defenseman P.K. Subban said. "But we're not going to get any sympathy from the teams we're going to play in the next six weeks.

"The good thing is we've had to deal with not having Price in the lineup for a little while already and we know what that means.

"When a key part of your team goes down, everyone has to pull up their socks and be a little better."

Because of the injury, first-year backup Mike Condon returns to the starting role. The Boston native went 5-2-2 when Price was out from late October to mid November, although he started to look shaky at the end of that run.

Condon is 8-2-3 with a solid 2.19 goals-against average and a.916 save percentage.

"I'm a lot more comfortable," Condon said. "I've had 14 appearances so far, so every time you go out there it gets a little more familiar and easier."

GM Marc Bergevin said he will not go shopping for another goalie just yet.

"We have Mike and (Dustin) Tokarski. I was at (an AHL game) and Zach Fucale played really well. That's why you have many goalies in your system. Now, if we lose three goalies, that's a different story."

Fucale was recalled from St. John's of the American Hockey League on Monday to back up Condon.

Bergevin said he was convinced by team doctors and trainers that Price did not return too early from his previous injury.

"It was not because he came back too quick that he got injured, but I understand the question," Bergevin said.

When Price returned from his previous injury, his team-mates spoke of how they kept winning and proved they are not entirely dependent on their star goalie.

The Canadiens lead the league with 88 goals in 25 games.

"It's a unique situation because Carey is our leader," defenseman Nathan Beaulieu said.

(China Daily 12/02/2015 page23)