Patrik Laine, who was injured against the Columbus Blue Jackets before Christmas, has been seen at Montreal Canadiens training.
Patrik Laine seems to be fit to play on Saturday. PDO
Patrik Laine, who missed the previous Montreal Canadiens game, has participated in the team’s training on Friday. As usual, Laine traveled with the rest of the team to Florida, where the Canadiens will face the Panthers on Saturday night Finnish time.
The Canadiens called up the goaltender on Friday by Jakub Dobes from the farm, but the forwards were not included in the NHL lineup. The decision suggests that Laine’s feared injury does not appear to be serious.
Hockey reporter Eric Engels shared a video on the messaging service X on Friday night in which Laine participated in the Canadiens’ team practice.
If you don’t see the embed, you can watch it from here.
The Canadiens said Laine suffered an upper body injury against his former team, the Columbus Blue Jackets. Laine only managed to play six minutes and 15 seconds before he left the game. He took an extraordinary amount of hits, especially on his left shoulder, which was operated on just last summer.
– The tail [Lainetta] were hit in certain spots, and the Blue Jackets players knew exactly what they were doing. And it worked. Laine had to be taken aside from the game, hockey reporter Renaud Lavoie evaluate.
The game was preceded by a colorful appearance by the Tampere native in the media. The winger didn’t exactly praise the Blue Jackets’ performance in the interview.
– It felt like the same thing was done there year after year. I was tired of losing and giving up, and already in December to focus on the new season. I don’t like that. It’s frustrating for a player when you want to win and some others aren’t like that, Laine told Athletic before the match.
The Columbus audience had apparently read Laine’s comments. The Tampere native was booed in the opening set practically every time he touched the puck.
Laine, 26, has achieved 8+1 in 10 matches so far.