The Canadiens are heading into tonight’s matchup with the Colorado Avalanche carrying more than one injury question, and the latest concern may be the biggest one yet.
Chris Kreider’s awkward exit in Boston has added another layer of uncertainty for Martin St-Louis, with no clear update yet on what his condition looks like. Kreider fell late in the third period and was unable to finish the game, leaving after just 9:08 of ice time. He traveled back to Montreal with the team overnight, but there still hasn’t been any real clarity on where things stand.
That comes on top of reports that Nick Suzuki and Mike Matheson are both still dealing with injuries. Maxime Truman said neither player is fully healthy, though the Canadiens have given very little away about what exactly is bothering them. That lack of detail has become a familiar theme around this roster.
Suzuki has still produced through it. He has 16 points in 13 games this season, even while playing through lingering discomfort. Against Boston, he handled heavy minutes but didn’t get on the scoresheet.
Matheson’s situation has been just as notable in a different way. He has appeared in only nine games, but he logged 21:11 against the Bruins and picked up an assist. His usage hasn’t looked like the usage of a player limited by injury, which only adds to the mystery.
The Canadiens have seen this pattern before. Oliver Kapanen carried a day-to-day designation for a month, and he has managed just one goal and one assist while his offensive struggles have already become a talking point.
Ivan Demidov has had an even tougher stretch, playing only two games this season and remaining on the injured list, with his absence expected to last until at least November 14. Earlier this month, he was seen practicing separately in a medical boot on his right foot, and more recent signs from Brossard suggested he was getting closer to a return.
Samuel Montembeault is still another unresolved case. His projected return was no earlier than November 12, and he has yet to play this season.
Even with all of that, Montreal keeps finding ways to win. The Canadiens are 12-3-4 and sit fifth overall in the NHL. They’re also riding an 8-0-2 run, with Jacob Fowler stopping 30 shots in Boston and Jake Evans scoring the winner.
That depth has helped them survive the injuries so far. But it only goes so far. With Suzuki and Matheson reportedly still banged up and Kreider now another question mark, the Canadiens are waiting on answers before puck drop.
In Other News...
Canadiens Avalanche Suddenly Had A Worrying Game Night Twist
Flight disruptions briefly put a wrinkle in the NHLs nightly travel plans, with concerns that officials might not make it to their assigned cities in time for games around the league, including the Canadiens-Avalanche matchup. For a team trying to keep its routine intact, even a logistical issue like that can add an odd layer of uncertainty before puck drop.
According to NHL insider John Shannon, the referees have already reached their destinations, and while there are still some scheduling adjustments to sort out for linesmen, no major problems are expected. The expectation is that the Montreal-Colorado game will go ahead as planned, which is the kind of result both teams were hoping for after a night that briefly looked like it could get complicated. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens First-Round Pick Is Suddenly Showing Why He Was So Intriguing
After a slow start to his season in the MHL, Gleb Pugachyov is beginning to look like the kind of first-round pick that made him so intriguing in the first place. The Montreal Canadiens prospect has settled in over his last several games, and his latest outing offered a little of everything: a goal, an assist and a fight in the same game.
It also pushed his point streak to five games and gave him eight points in 12 games, a stretch that suggests both his offense and edge are coming back together. For Montreal, that kind of response matters because Pugachyov's appeal was never just about skill, but about the blend of production and physicality that can make a prospect stand out. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Suddenly Face A Chris Kreider Problem Against Colorado
Chris Kreiders injury has quickly turned into a lineup wrinkle for the Canadiens as they head into their game against the Colorado Avalanche. Montreal has already confirmed that Kreider will be out for six to eight weeks after getting hurt against Boston, and the club is moving Florian Xhekaj into the lineup to fill the opening.
The change comes with a few other moving parts for Montreal as well. Jakub Dobes is set to start in goal instead of Jacob Fowler, while defenseman Mike Matheson remains a game-time decision, leaving the Canadiens with at least one more late call to make before puck drop. [Read more 🡒]