(Pittsburgh) Chris Wideman won’t face the Penguins on Saturday night. The defender of the Canadian is injured in the upper body.
“It’s a bit of a weird injury,” said Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme late Saturday afternoon. He hadn’t been feeling well for a few days and it got worse. It is not common. ”
His absence means that the Habs will return to a conventional formation of 12 attackers and 6 defenders, since the team does not count on any other healthy defender. Michael Pezzetta will be the 12e striker and therefore returns to the action after having been supernumerary in the last three games.
Wideman is CH’s most productive defender this season with 8 points in 17 games. He plays an average of 14:54.
Jake Allen will defend the Montrealers’ net.
PHOTO NICK WASS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jake allen
Ducharme also indicated that he would make changes to his lines following a 4-1 loss to the Sabers in Buffalo.
The Canadian and the Penguins are on opposite paths. The Montrealers have lost six of their last seven games, while the Penguins have won their last five outings.
The gang at Sidney Crosby will also play a second game in 24 hours. She’ll send Casey DeSmith in front of the net. DeSmith is having a tough start to the season, allowing 14 goals in 3 games.
Forward Bryan Rust, absent at the last minute on Friday, will also miss the meeting with the Canadiens. The winger injured his lower body during the warm-up on Friday.