The Canadiens may be getting a little closer to a healthier lineup, but Ivan Demidov still looks like the biggest question mark on the board.
Montreal announced on October 6 that Demidov would be out for two to four weeks, which put his projected return somewhere between October 20 and November 3. That window still leaves plenty of room for a comeback, but his absence from yesterday’s practice makes it hard to picture him dressing tonight against San Jose.
If he does miss tonight’s game, the next chance for Montreal comes Friday, October 23, against the Chicago Blackhawks. That’s where the spotlight shifts now: could Demidov be back by then?
There’s a chance, but he isn’t the only injured Canadien whose timeline is worth watching.
The club said on October 9 that Samuel Montembeault would miss 10 to 14 days. Ten days have passed, so a return by Sunday is at least possible on paper. Still, Renaud Lavoie suggested last week that the absence might stretch beyond that, so there’s no firm answer yet on whether the goaltender will be back before the weekend ends.
Mike Matheson is in a similar holding pattern. He skated yesterday morning and remains day-to-day, but working separately from the main group alongside Florian Xhekaj is usually not the clearest sign that a player is ready to jump right back in. Lavoie was upbeat about Matheson’s situation, though that extra skating session suggests he probably won’t be available tonight.
Xhekaj is also part of the injury picture, with an expected return in about 10 days.
The schedule may help Montreal here. With a two-day break between Tuesday’s game and Friday’s matchup, the Canadiens have a little more breathing room, and that could give them a shot at welcoming back a few injured players against Chicago. At the same time, these timelines can still shift.
Demidov, 20, has posted two points in two games this season, and his absence has been felt on the second line. Alex Newhook has four points through eight games in that spot, but Demidov’s potential return would be the one most likely to change the look of Montreal’s attack, especially on the power play.
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