Photo credit: Club de Hockey Montreal Canadiens
The injury bug continues to bite at the Montreal Canadiens, as the club learned on Thursday that winger Alex Tanguay is out at least six weeks with a suspected shoulder separation.
Tanguay wouldn’t specify whether it was a separation, dislocation or strain, but was cradling his forearm as he left the press room at the team’s practice facility in Brossard. “It could take eight weeks, but I’ll do everything I can to get back as soon as possible,” he said.
Tanguay, who is third in team scoring with 10 goals and 26 points, suffered the injury in Tuesday’s game against the Lightning after a hit by Tampa’s Evgeni Artyukhin.
The 29-year-old, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent in July, was acquired by the Canadiens last summer for a first-round selection in 2008 and a second round selection in 2009.
Tanguay joins a big-name list of Canadiens on the shelf, with Saku Koivu (foot), Christopher Higgins (shoulder), Georges Laraque (groin) and Mathieu Dandenault (forearm) out of the lineup.
Meanwhile, goaltender Carey Price is day-to-day with a lower body injury (not related to the left knee problem he suffered in December).
Head coach Guy Carbonneau said Price “tweaked something” during the pre-game warmup Tuesday in Tampa, but didn’t tell the coaches and played anyway, winning the shootout. He will miss Friday’s game in New Jersey, but Carbonneau hopes Price will be ready to return Sunday against Florida.
To make up for the roster losses, the club has called up forwards Max Pacioretty and Kyle Chipchura, defenceman Yannick Weber and netminder Marc Denis.
Denis will back up Jaroslav Halak on Friday, while Chipchura will play as a fourth line centre.
Pacioretty might make his NHL debut along with Weber. Carbonneau added that he’s considering using the rookie Swiss defenceman as a power play specialist like Mark Streit was by inserting him into the lineup as a forward.
I’m not one to say: “I told you so”………but I told you so!!!!!
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Bob Gainey decides to demote Ryan O’Byrne and call-up Yannick Weber who has been on a roll of late with 7 points in 7 games (GP- 7 G-3 A-4 +3 SOG-24). O’Byrne needs to play to re-gain his confidence and further develop his game, something he isn’t doing in the press box the last few games”.
Alright, enough with the back patting stuff. It will be fun to see what these players can contribute to the team in the next few games.
I’m particularly curious to see what Weber can bring as a forward and on the powerplay. As I’ve mentioned before, he’s on a roll these days in Hamilton and is finally getting his 100 mph point shot on net with more consistency.
