MONTREAL — Star goaltender Carey Price will make his season debut for the Montreal Canadiens against the New York Islanders on Friday at Bell Centre.

Habs coach Martin St. Louis confirmed the news following Friday's morning skate.

Price, who hasn't played since Game 5 of the 2021 Stanley Cup final on July 7, spent months recovering from off-season knee surgery.

He was forced to pause his rehabilitation after voluntarily entering the NHL's player assistance program last fall. He has previously said he entered the program for substance abuse.

In January, Price spoke with the Montreal media for the first time in six months and said he was hopeful he could return to the lineup before the end of the season, but admitted there was a possibility his career could be in jeopardy.

"There's a saying that champions are built when no one is looking," St. Louis said Friday. "A player's success, for the fans, is judged on the ice, but the player has to do a lot of things to be successful on the ice — often alone, when no one is watching or cheering him on."

Price, from Anahim Lake, B.C., has spent his entire 14-season NHL career with the Habs. The seven-time all-star was named the NHL's most valuable player and top goaltender in 2015.

Montreal (20-43-11) sits in last place in the National Hockey League with eight games remaining and has surrendered a league-high 284 goals this season.