All Montreal Hockey has no direct affiliation to the Montreal Canadiens, NHL or NHLPA
Jake Evans' injury forces Canadiens into immediate roster move after Penguins game
Saturday, the Canadiens shut out the Penguins 4-0, but Jake Evans left early.
After one period, Montreal led Pittsburgh 2-0 at the Bell Centre. Juraj Slafkovsky scored on the power play at 16:41, his 10th, assisted by Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki.
Owen Beck then scored his first NHL goal at 18:49, on passes from Brendan Gallagher and Lane Hutson. Caufield earned his 18th assist, Suzuki his 30th, and Hutson his 27th.
The dark cloud is Jake Evans, who left the ice after contact to the knee.
On the sequence, he appears to receive a knee-on-knee hit from Justin Brazeau and grimaces immediately. He headed to the locker room in the first period and did not return to the game. It is described as a lower-body injury, and he is still being evaluated.
Jake Evans worries everyone at the Bell Centre
Evans, 29 years old, is not a piece you replace quietly on the Canadiens. Last season, he collected 36 points in 82 games, including 13 goals. In his career, he has 138 points, including 45 goals, in 384 NHL games.
It's now been confirmed that Jake Evans will not be making the trip before the Christmas break.
"Jake Evans will not accompany the team on the road before the Christmas break. Evans is still being evaluated at the moment."
- Priyanta Emrith
- Priyanta Emrith
The Canadiens will therefore monitor his case day to day, in the middle of a sequence of road games. In addition, the team has just announced that there will be no practice before tonight's game.
The Canadiens recall Samuel Blais from Laval
Sunday, the Canadiens recalled forward Samuel Blais from the Laval Rocket.
The move comes during a road trip to Pittsburgh, involving a 29-year-old who already knows the organization. Blais had been claimed off waivers by Montreal at the end of November, after a brief stint with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
On the ice in Laval, the numbers speak quickly. In nine games with the Rocket this season, Blais recorded nine points, three goals and six assists. That is a point per game.
The Canadiens also continue to shuffle their lineup in the short term, with Jared Davidson assigned to the Rocket on Saturday. In short, Blais returns at the right time and immediately enters the mix.
Finally, the hope is that the Canadiens will earn a second win tonight against the Penguins.