‘Great to see him’: Canadiens’ Patrik Laine skates with teammates for first time since injury

The Montreal Canadiens mightiness beryllium getting immoderate reinforcements soon aft Patrik Laine practised with his teammates for the archetypal clip since suffering a near genu sprain.

Laine skated unsocial earlier joining the squad for the archetypal fewer drills astatine signifier connected Wednesday astatine CN Sports Complex. He wore a non-contact jersey and near the crystal aft astir 15 minutes.

“It’s bully to person him backmost with us,” defenceman David Savard said. “It tin consciousness similar a agelong clip erstwhile you’re not practising with the team, you don’t spot the guys arsenic much. We’ve made an effort to support him progressive arsenic overmuch arsenic imaginable during squad meetings, but it’s tougher erstwhile we’re connected the road.

“But it’s large to spot him and to cognize he’s adjacent to returning to play.”

Laine was injured aft a collision with Cédric Paré during a pre-season crippled against the Toronto Maple Leafs connected Sept. 28. He opted not to acquisition surgery.

The Canadiens announced connected Oct. 1 that helium would beryllium sidelined for 2 to 3 months. He resumed skating connected his ain connected Nov. 6. At this point, he’s expected to marque his authoritative debut successful a Canadiens azygous sometime successful December.

Trending Now

The 26-year-old Finn hasn’t played successful the NHL since Dec. 14 arsenic a subordinate of the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was sidelined with a fractured clavicle and aboriginal entered the NHL/NHLPA subordinate assistance programme to absorption connected his intelligence health.

Laine volition apt request immoderate clip to get backmost into crippled rhythm.

“Will it instrumentality 1 game? Two weeks? I don’t know, we’ll see,” Canadiens caput manager Martin St. Louis said.

The Canadiens are riding a two-game triumph streak and adjacent play the Vegas Golden Knights connected Saturday astatine the Bell Centre.