The goalie did not play after the first period of a 4-1 loss at the Edmonton Oilers on Monday and did not practice Tuesday.
"Sometimes symptoms can come a little bit after," Canadiens coach Dominique Ducharme said Tuesday. "So I cannot tell you exactly when he started to feel bad. I'm sure if it would have been, he would have told us. I think when he got off the ice (Monday) and sat down in the locker room and then he had to go see the therapist and started to feel bad, then they came to see me."
Price likely will miss at least the next four games beginning at Edmonton on Wednesday (10 p.m. ET; SNW, TSN2, RDS, NHL.TV), and at the Calgary Flames on Friday, Saturday and Monday. The Canadiens then host the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 28.
Ducharme said Price was injured when he was hit by Oilers forward Alex Chiasson in the crease when Connor McDavid scored at 12:01. The goal was overturned for goaltender interference.
"I personally had no reason to think otherwise, that he (Price) was not feeling well," Ducharme said. "I think he's been through a lot, so he knows that those are things that we cannot, if he doesn't tell us, diagnose from the bench. I think he just felt bad toward the end (of the period) or when he came to the room."
Price made seven saves before being replaced by Jake Allen to begin the second period with the game tied 0-0. Allen made 25 saves on 28 shots.
Cayden Primeau was Montreal's emergency goalie and could start a a game during the road trip. The 21-year-old has played two NHL games, none this season.
"Yeah, good chances," Ducharme said. "We like how the kid is handling himself. He's been really solid with [Laval of the American Hockey League]. And, you know, it's that time of the year at times that young guys come in, he's playing in the big game. We're confident when the time comes, he's going to be sharp."
The Canadiens (19-15-9) are fourth in the seven-team Scotia North Division, six points ahead of the Flames. The top four teams will qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Price missed six games with a lower-body injury before returning for a 4-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, when he made 11 saves on 14 shots.
Monday was the first time this season the Canadiens replaced their starting goalie in a game. They did so once last season, when Price was relieved by Keith Kinkaid early in the second period after allowing five goals in an 8-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Nov. 26, 2019.
"It's unfortunate for Carey, but that's what I'm here for," Allen said Monday. "I'm here to step up when guys go down. That's my job. So I've got to always be ready."
NHL.com columnist Dave Stubbs contributed to this report
