An excerpt from the TSN game preview for tonight’s game against the Panthers:
Sergei Kostitsyn will take older brother Andrei’s spot on a line with Tomas Plekanec and Alex Kovalev when the Montreal Canadiens host the Florida Panthers at the Bell Centre tonight.
Montreal was leading 2-0 in the second period of Saturday’s game against Phoenix when Coyotes defenceman Kurt Sauer got an arm into Kostitsyn’s face and slammed his head into the glass. Kostitsyn’s face hit the ice as he fell and did not return to the game.
Head coach Guy Carbonneau said Sunday he would be astonished if the elder Kostitsyn was in the lineup against the Florida Panthers, but was feeling better without headaches and could possibly return on Saturday against Anaheim.
Also, Chris Higgins has not been given the green light to return, while Georges Laraque is out with a sore groin. The club has called up centre Kyle Chipchura for the game.