In yet more injury catastrophe for the Montreal Canadiens, Kirby Dach has found himself out of the lineup once again this season, this time due to an upper-body injury seemingly sustained in the overtime period of last night’s game between the Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres.
Canadiens announce Kirby Dach won’t play tonight.
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) March 28, 2023
Dach was reportedly placed into concussion protocol and was forced to miss the shootout in the game. This injury is another blow to a player who had just returned from a lower-body injury. The previous ailment sidelined him for just over one month. Dach recorded three points in the mere four games played him since the original, lower-body injury.
Kirby Dach Out with Lower-Body Injury
Aside from the injuries he’s sustained this season (and throughout the entirety of his young career), Dach has played at the most consistent form of his short career. His 14 goals and 24 assists are both clear career highs for the 22-year-old Canadian. On an 82-game pace, these totals would result in an approximately 20-goal and 34-assist season.
Montreal has provided the big-bodied Dach with a fresh opportunity impossible to provide on an otherwise similarly miserable Blackhawks side. For Dach, the stability of Nick Suzuki at centre has amplified his strong, balanced skating and perimeter play-driving and passing. Fellow wingers such as Cole Caufield (before his injury) and Mike Hoffman were aiding with their superb shooting abilities.
Implications for the Canadiens
Montreal is especially familiar with injuries this season. Dach is another name (again) added to a very long injury list on a miserable team nowhere near the postseason. Originally set to miss tonight’s game as a healthy scratch, Chris Tierney draws back into the lineup. To much anticipation, Sean Farrell, who was set to replace Tierney, draws into the lineup for his NHL debut regardless, now alongside Tierney in place of Kirby Dach. According to Daily Faceoff, Sean Farrell is set to play on Montreal’s second line alongside Jonathan Drouin and Denis Gurianov, who were Dach’s linemates in the four games played by Dach after his lower-body injury.
Main photo by: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports
