GALLAGHER OUT 8 WEEKS
Canadiens confirm that winger broke his left hand
TORONTO The Canadiens had to balance good news with bad as they prepared to meet the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday (7 p.m., CBC, TVA Sports, TSN 690 Radio).
Shortly before practice Friday, it was announced Brendan Gallagher will miss at least eight weeks after surgery on a broken left hand.
On the plus side, Alex Galchenyuk and Andrei Markov rejoined their teammates, although neither will play Saturday.
Coach Michel Therrien said he knew Gallagher would be out for a while after he was hit by a Shea Weber slapshot Wednesday in Dallas.
“It’s the same hand he injured last season, but it’s a different spot,” said Therrien. “It’s a tough break for him because he was starting to play some of his best hockey.”
The Canadiens lost another topsix forward when Paul Byron was hit by the Stars’ Patrick Sharp. Byron worked out off the ice and Therrien would only say that he had an upper-body injury and he won’t play Saturday.
Galchenyuk and Markov haven’t been cleared for contact, but Therrien said they were close.
“We don’t have a lot of time for practice, so we brought them here so they could get a few days with the team,” said Therrien. He noted they could be ready to face Washington Monday at the Bell Centre or return Wednesday in Winnipeg.
“I feel pretty good and it’s good to be back with the guys,” said Galchenyuk. “I’ll be back when I feel like I’m ready to play my game. I’m still feeling things out, working on things I’ve done before, cutting across, doing things with the puck, and it’s been great so far. Even if you’re not injured, if you haven’t been with the guys for several weeks, you kind of feel weird. There’s some rust. You know what kind of player you are, what things you can do, but you’re hesitating a bit. But all those things come back when you’re doing the work.”
The latest injuries are testing the team’s depth and challenging Therrien’s ability to juggle lines.
Alexander Radulov, who has been on a post-Christmas hot streak, will move into Gallagher’s spot on the top line with Phillip Danault and Max Pacioretty. It’s a gamble putting all his available firepower on one line, but Therrien will be able to balance things out when Galchenyuk returns.
Sven Andrighetto and Nikita Scherbak have been summoned from St. John’s and will be in the lineup Saturday. Andrighetto, who has bounced between the AHL and the NHL all season, will play on a line with Tomas Plekanec and Artturi Lehkonen, while Scherbak will make his NHL debut on the fourth line with Michael McCarron and Bobby Farnham. All three players on that line started the season in St. John’s.
Therrien said the game was an opportunity for Scherbak.
“We like how he progressed this year compared to last year,” said Therrien.
“He had a fair training camp but since he’s been in St. John’s this year, his work ethic has been better. He’s more responsible on the ice, with the puck and without the puck. We know he has skill, but I’m interested to see how he handles the pace.”