The New York Islanders are in Montreal this evening to face the Canadian, who is counting on highly anticipated return to the game Finnish striker Patrik Laine, recovered from his knee injury suffered during a preparatory match.
This is Laine’s first official match since December 14, 2023. Bored by injuries, stopped at the start of the year by a stay in the NHL Player Assistance Program, the 26 year old guy can finally get back into action.
We are in the first period. The score is 0-0.
• Also read: Caufield, the least well fed of the best scorers
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SUMMARY
FIRST PERIOD
6:40 | Samuel Montembeault (MTL) stops Bo Horvat (NYI) during a Montreal defensive fluctuation
4:47 | Cole Caufield (MTL) misses a golden chance after receiving a bright pass from Alex Newhook (MTL)
3:30 | Kirby Dach (MTL) misses a great opportunity at the mouth of the net
1:21 | Maxim Tsyplakov (NYI) is punished for tripping
0:50 | Samuel Montembeault (MTL) makes a spectacular save
0:00 | Start of the match
PREMATCH
For this long-awaited return, Laine skates alongside Kirby Dach and Juraj Slafkovsky. “It’s an early Christmas present,” Dach rejoiced. Laine will also play on the first numerical superiority unit. The Canadian’s head coach, Martin St-Louis, indicated that Dach would be transferred to the second in place of Joel Armia.
As for the match itself, the Habs will look to get back to winning ways after losing four of their last five duels. It’s Samuel Montembeault who is in front of the team’s net.
The Islanders, for their part, have won only two of their last eight games and occupy seventh place in the Metropolitan section.
This is the second match of the season between these two teams. On October 19, the Islanders won 4-3 after a long shootout session in New York. CH’s ace scorer, Cole Caufield, scored twice that evening.
