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Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price watches action from the bench during third period NHL playoff action in Montreal on May 17.Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price tested a suspected knee injury briefly ahead of an optional practice on Sunday, but his fitness for Game 2 of the NHL Eastern Conference final remains in doubt.

Price went on the ice with goaltending coach Stephane Waite for about five minutes, mostly moving side to side in the crease. Then they left the ice.

Coach Michel Therrien could not confirm that Price will be able to play in Game 2 of the best-of-seven series on Monday night at the Bell Centre. He said they would know on Monday if he can play.

"Today was an optional practice," said Therrien. "It was a therapy day for Carey. We'll see if he's able to play."

Price was hurt at 3:15 of the second period of a 7-2 loss to New York in the series opener on Saturday when Rangers forward Chris Kreider crashed into him skates-first after missing the net on a breakaway.

Price lay on the ice for a while and appeared to injure his right knee, but got up and stayed in the game.

After giving up two goals late in the period, he was replaced by backup Peter Budaj for the third frame.

Forward Brandon Prust said Kreider ran into Price "accidentally on purpose."

Therrien agreed.

"I reviewed the incident," he said. "Obviously, it was an accidental contact, but let's put it this way, he didn't make much effort to avoid the contact.

"I'm sure the intention of the player was not to hit the goalie, but you have to try to do everything in your power to avoid contact and it's tough to say if he tried everything to avoid that contact."

Price's place was taken by third-string goalie Dustin Tokarski for the practice. Forwards Tomas Plekanec and Lars Eller and defencemen P.K. Subban and Josh Gorges opted not to skate.

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