It appears Saku Koivu is nursing an undisclosed injury and is possibly receiving therapy. There was a reason for Koivu not being on the ice for the OT session and shootout against the Bruins. He didn’t play a bad game and usually always plays in OT/shootout sessions……we’ll find out more after the practice.
Update (08/10/16 at 14h18):
Guy Carbonneau spoke to the media after practice and stated that Saku Koivu will be in the lineup for Saturday’s game against the Phoenix. He also mentioned Koivu was having a therapy day but didn’t elaborate further concerning Koivu injury.
Druing this morning’s practice session, Christopher Higgins replaced Koivu at center on a line with Guillaume Latendresse and Alex Tanguay.
I would expect Carbo will re-unite Higgins with Tanguay and Koivu but we are talking about the always unpredictable Guy Carbonneau. Leaving Latendresse (who has played well and gone harder to the net this season…..5 points in 4 games!!) on the Koivu line wouldn’t be a terrible thing with Higgins playing along side Lang and SK-74.
With that being said, I would like to see Carbo give Higgins 10-15 games with Tanguay/Koivu to build some chemistry and see what the line can do…….we’ll find out at tomorrow’s practice (if Koivu is on the ice) or Saturday night.
RDS: Le capitaine absent