The Montreal Canadiens face a challenging situation as they prepare for their match against the Florida Panthers. Despite the recent move of defenseman Adam Engström to Laval, Kaiden Guhle will not return to the lineup on Thursday.
Guhle’s Continued Absence
Guhle has been sidelined since October 16 due to an injury sustained during a game against the Nashville Predators. Initially, the Canadiens reported a lower-body injury with an expected absence of four to six weeks.
However, following a brief return to skating, Guhle had surgery on an adductor muscle on November 14, performed by Dr. Mark Zoland in New York. The team then announced a much longer recovery period of eight to ten weeks.
Coincidentally, Friday will mark eight weeks since Guhle’s surgery, keeping him out of action longer than initially anticipated.
Game Day Decisions for the Canadiens
Head coach Martin St-Louis will field the same 18 players who faced off against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. The only change will be in goal, as Samuel Montembeault takes the net. This decision means Jakub Dobeš will miss his fourth consecutive game, with his last appearance dating back to January 1, when the Canadiens won 7-5 against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Panthers Matchup
The Canadiens will have to contend with the Florida Panthers, who will be without forward Brad Marchand, injured during a game in Toronto on Tuesday. In goal, Sergei Bobrovsky will defend against the Canadiens’ offense.
Key Players and Stats
- Kaiden Guhle: Injured since October 16; underwent surgery on November 14.
- Samuel Montembeault: Starting goalie for the Canadiens against the Panthers.
- Brad Marchand: Injured Panthers’ forward.
The match will provide a critical moment for the Canadiens as they aim to solidify their lineup amidst ongoing injuries.
