Injury Notebook: Price's return may be soon; Lessio out 2-3 weeks

"The Neutral Zone" Injury Report

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price skated and worked on stickhandling drills Friday before his team practiced. 

According to the NHL website, Price skated with his catching glove, blocker and goalie stick while wearing a track suit. In addition to skating around the ice, he worked on lateral movement in the goal crease, and also worked on puck retrievals behind the goal and clearing passes with a member of the Canadiens training staff.

Price, who was last season's Hart and Vezina trophy winner, has been out since November 25 with a lower-body injury.

In other news for the Canadiens, forward Lucas Lessio has been listed as out for 2-3 weeks with a lower-body injury he sustained on February 2 at Philadelphia.

Medical update: Lucas Lessio will be out 2-3 weeks (lower body injury suffered on Feb. 2nd in Philadelphia).

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 5, 2016

Mise à jour médicale: Lucas Lessio sera absent pour une période de 2-3 semaines (blessure au bas du corps subie le 2 février à PHI).

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 5, 2016

Canadiens send Christian Thomas to Coyotes for Lucas Lessio in exchange of minor-league forwards

"The Neutral Zone" Roster Report

MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens traded Christian Thomas to the Phoenix Coyotes for Lucas Lessio in an exchange of minor-league forwards Tuesday.

Lessio, 22, had seven goals and 12 points in 24 games with the AHL Springfield Falcons this season. The six-foot-one 212-pound left-winger has three goals and two assists in 29 career NHL games.

The Maple, Ont. native was picked 56th overall by Phoenix in the 2011 draft.

Thomas, 23, the son of former NHL forward Steve Thomas, had two assists in five NHL games this season.