The Montreal Canadiens got the last bit of news they could have wanted. The club announced on Sunday that another regular center will be out of the lineup due to injury.
Canadiens second-line center Kirby Dach will be out for four to six weeks with a broken foot. The injury occurred during Sunday’s game against the Boston Bruins as Dach blocked a shot, the Montreal Gazette reported.
The injury became apparent on Sunday, with the club announcing that Dach will hit the shelf. Dach’s injury comes on the heels of the gruesome injury Alex Newhook sustained last Thursday. Newhook slid into the boards feet first, causing him to sustain a broken ankle.
With Dach hitting the shelf, the Canadiens are now down two of their regular centers. Only captain Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans remain on the roster as the Canadiens’ regular centers. This situation could mean the Habs may be on the lookout for a short-term solution down the middle.
As a stopgap measure, the Canadiens recalled Joshua Roy from the AHL. Roy should be in the lineup on Monday as the Habs take on the Blue Jackets in Columbus.
Dach joins Newhook and Patrik Laine as Montreal forwards currently out with injuries. Laine had surgery to repair a core muscle in October. Laine could be back this season, though he may not hit the ice until after the Olympic break.
Dach Has Long Injury History
Unfortunately for Dach, he’s had a long list of injuries throughout his career. Dach has already missed time this season after sustaining a lower-body injury. Last year, Dach missed most of the Canadiens’ season due to knee surgery.
The 24-year-old played in just 57 games before getting shut down in late January. He made a full recovery and had a solid training camp this fall.
But that was not the worst injury Dach has had in his career. Early in the 2023-24 season, the Canadiens went without Dach for almost the entire season after the former first-round pick sustained a torn ACL.
This season’s injury is just another in a long list of ailments Dach has suffered throughout his young career.
Canadiens to Juggle Lines following Dach Injury
Dach’s absence will unleash a ripple effect in the Canadiens’ lineup. Oliver Kapenen will now step up into the second-line center role with Zack Bolduc and Ivan Demidov on the wings. Jake Evans, meanwhile, should move up from the fourth line to the third. He’ll line up along with Joshua Roy and veteran Josh Anderson.
As for the checking line, PTO invitee Joe Veleno will hit the ice with Jared Davidson and Brendan Gallagher. Veleno was a castaway after a tough season last year. But he seems to have found a home in Montreal amid the barrage of injuries befalling the Canadiens.
The Habs are riding a three-game losing streak and will be looking to break out of their funk. The club will be counting on its remaining roster players to play key roles in keeping the Canadiens atop the Atlantic Division this season.
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