The Montreal Canadiens are currently facing significant injury concerns as the Stanley Cup Playoffs progress, impacting key players on their roster.
The team announced on Tuesday that defenseman Alexandre Carrier was absent from practice and is being evaluated daily due to an undisclosed injury. Carrier left Game 4 late in the game and did not return after taking a solid hit from Capitals forward Tom Wilson. The 28-year-old right-shot blueliner has contributed one goal and one assist in the playoffs, maintaining an average ice time of over 20 minutes per game.
Forward Patrik Laine, who had missed the previous two games with an upper-body injury, rejoined the team on the ice ahead of Game 5. However, head coach Martin St. Louis informed reporters after practice that the Finnish forward`s status remains day-to-day.
Laine, a notable off-season acquisition for Montreal, is still seeking his first goal of the post-season, contrasting with his 20 goals scored in 52 regular-season games. He has registered only one assist through Games 1 and 2, playing approximately 12 minutes of ice time.
In addition to these injury updates, forwards Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson, along with defenseman David Savard, were all absent from Tuesday`s practice. The Canadiens stated these absences were for maintenance days.
Starting goaltender Samuel Montembeault also did not participate in practice and is listed as day-to-day. Montembeault suffered a lower-body injury during Game 3.
Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.