The Montreal Canadiens have announced that both Alex Galchenyuk and David Desharnais will miss six to eight weeks with knee injuries. Alex Galchenyuk suffered his knee injury after colliding with Anze Kopitar on Sunday during the Habs/Los Angeles Kings game. David Desharnais hurt his knee Tuesday night, when the Canadiens took on the St. Louis Blues.
Montreal Canadiens Lose Galchenyuk, Desharnais
Galchenyuk was having a hot year this season, scoring nine goals and adding 14 assists for a total of 23 points in 25 games. The 22-year-old was tied for fifteenth place for scoring in the entire National Hockey League, but now with this injury, will most likely fall down in the rankings. Desharnais, 30, who has scored three goals and has added six helpers in 25 games this season, was Galchenyuk’s replacement as the number one center, but now with him injured, the Canadiens numbers are hurting. They are down to two centers now and will need to rely on their veteran players to help fill in, as well as even maybe needing to call in players from their American Hockey League affiliate- The St. Johns’ Ice Caps.
“It’s a big opportunity for our group,” Montreal captain Max Pacioretty said. “We’ve had to face adversity before in years past. Obviously [Galchenyuk] is a big part of this team, but I think when a guy like that goes out, it’s a big opportunity for other guys to step up and fill the role. It’s important for us to play well tonight and have a little bit more jump in our step to try and show we have the depth we feel we have in this organization.” (NHL.com)
“Every team has to deal with injuries at some point,” right wing Brendan Gallagher said. “We’ve learned a lot of lessons like that in the past. We’re capable of doing it.” (NHL.com)
With six to eight weeks being both the players timetable for return, it is expected to see them both back on the ice early to mid-February.
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