The Montreal Canadiens announced that winger Paul Byron will not return tonight after suffering an upper-body injury.
Paul Byron ne sera pas de retour ce soir (haut du corps).
Paul Byron will not return tonight (upper body injury).#GoHabsGo
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 27, 2019
Paul Byron Injured
Byron left the game after he and Florida Panthers defenceman MacKenzie Weegar got into a fight in the first period of tonight’s game. He and Weegar have a history. Byron was suspended earlier in the season after delivering a dirty hit on Weegar in January. While the team has not confirmed anything yet, it is strongly suspected that Byron suffered a concussion on the play.
So far this season, Byron has scored 15 goals and 15 assists for 30 points to go along with 12 minutes in penalties. He has missed 20 games due to injury and three games with a suspension. His possession numbers were 53.1 percent Corsi-For and a relative Corsi of -1.7.
Over his nine-year NHL career, Byron has played for the Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, and Montreal Canadiens. He has 85 goals and 89 assists for 174 career points in 417 career NHL games. He was originally drafted by the Sabres in the sixth round, 179th overall, in the 2007 NHL Draft.
What This Means for the Future
With Byron out of the game expect the Habs to double shift some wingers for the rest of the game. Byron picked up goals in his previous two games and has looked solid being on the bottom six over the past few games. The Ottawa native is essential to the Habs penalty kill as he is always a threat to score short-handed. Byron has nine career short-handed goals in his career.
If Byron is out for an extended period expect Matthew Peca to see some time back in the Habs line-up. Peca was signed as a free agent in the off-season. He would replace Byron’s speed in the lineup. Other options for Claude Julien include Dale Weise, Nicolas Deslauriers, and Charles Hudon.
Main Photo: BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 14: Paul Byron #41 of the Montreal Canadiens looks or a shot on goal against the Boston Bruins during the second period at TD Garden on January 14, 2019, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
