The Montreal Canadiens continue to be bit by the injury bug for the 2022-23 season. Montreal’s 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning yielded two more injuries. The Habs saw a Josh Anderson injury and Kaiden Guhle was also lost for the rest of the season. Anderson will undergo more tests and not travel to Boston. News of these injuries broke late Tuesday night.
Josh Anderson (bas du corps) passera des tests mercredi et n’accompagnera pas l’équipe à Boston.
Josh Anderson (lower body) will undergo more tests on Wednesday and will not travel with the team to Boston.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 22, 2023
Josh Anderson Injury to Be Evaluated
Anderson was injured trying to scored an empty-net goal in the third period of the Habs’ win over the Lightning. The Burlington, Ontario native was tangled up with Tampa’s Mikhail Sergachev, who locked Anderson’s arm. Anderson looked like he was taken down and slid feet first into the net after a hard landing. He was helped off the ice and did not return.
The 28-year-old has 21 goals and 11 assists for 32 points in 68 games this season. Anderson has played for the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Canadiens over his nine-year NHL career. The veteran winger was taken in the fourth round with the 95th overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft.
Guhle will miss the remainder of the season with a high ankle sprain. The 21-year-old defenceman missed Saturday’s game with his most-recent action against the Florida Panthers. However, he won’t need surgery according to TSN’s Kenzie Lalonde.
What the Josh Anderson Injury Means
Anderson’s injury is just another on the long line of injuries for the Canadiens. Montreal has lost players such as Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovský and others missing significant time. The 82-game season takes a toll on teams, but the Habs have taken a lot of punishment this season.
There is plenty of promise with this young roster and head coach Martin St. Louis has done well getting the most out of his lineup. Montreal is a fun and exciting team that could be on the cusp of contending sooner rather than later. However, these injured players will have to heal before they can get moving in the right direction.
Main photo by: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
