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'It kind of feels like it's a new season,' Price says after Julien's 1st practice

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

It's safe to say the Montreal Canadiens have officially hit the reset button.

The team hit the ice after its league-mandated bye week Friday, for its first practice under new head coach Claude Julien. Pictures were taken, babies were kissed, and everybody's looking forward to a return to game action Saturday when the Winnipeg Jets visit the Bell Centre.

All-world goaltender and Montreal's most important player Carey Price had the quote of the day:

"It kind of feels like it's a new season," Price told a massive horde of media after practice.

The 29-year-old has to be hoping that's the case, because if the last two years are any indication, the Habs love when a new one begins.

The All-Star said he appreciated his new coach's defensive drills in practice.

"It's nice to see guys playing defense," he said with a smile.

Price was 13-2-1 through November this season, the Canadiens once again looking like Stanley Cup contenders, racing out to a huge lead in the Atlantic Division.

It's been a struggle since December, for Price and his team.

Month SV% GP
December .899 11
January .906 11
February .879 5

Michel Therrien was fired Tuesday, with former Boston Bruins head coach Julien taking over.

Last year, general manager Marc Bergevin watched his team implode in spectacular fashion after Price went down to injury after only 12 games, 10 of which he won. This time around, Bergevin wasn't going to do the same.

Can Julien fix the Habs? We're about to find out. But a fresh start is clearly what Montreal needed.

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