Forward Laurent Dauphin could well play his first NHL game in nearly three years on Tuesday with the club of his childhood. Dauphin has been recalled from the Laval Rocket after the Canadiens announced that forward Tyler Toffoli is suffering from an upper-body injury.
“There’s a good chance he’s playing tomorrow. He has a good start to the season [avec le Rocket], and we know him quite well as a player. He’s a guy who’s competitive; he can play on the wing, in the center. He can do several things and, since he has had a good start to the season, he deserves his chance, ”said head coach Dominique Ducharme.
The 26-year-old Quebecer hopes to play his first game with the Bleu-blanc-rouge since being acquired from the Predators on January 7, 2020, in return for Michael McCarron.
Dauphin, who hasn’t played an NHL game since the Jan. 10, 2019 game with the Arizona Coyotes, looked confident he could rise to the challenge. “I try to keep myself ready, if I get the chance to play a game. I don’t have to think too much – I have experience in the business – and I have to stay prepared. […] I don’t even know if I’m going to play, but I hope so, that’s for sure, ”said the hockey player from Repentigny.
“It would be special [de jouer pour le Canadien]. Since I was young, I’ve dreamed of this… I’ll be ready, and I’ll give my all when I get my chance, ”he added, a smile on his face.
It will be Dauphin’s second stint with the team this season, after he was called up late Thursday to replace Josh Anderson. The latter fell in action in the Canadiens’ 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
Dauphin, however, was returned to the Laval Rocket before Saturday’s game against the Nashville Predators, which ended in a 4-3 overtime loss. Two days later, he was on the ice at the Bell Sports Complex with his teammates.
In addition, the CH indicated that Toffoli’s state of health will be reassessed in the coming days. A worrying situation, according to Ducharme. ” Yes. It may be quite long. It happened in the last game [face aux Predators]. He’s injured his upper body, and we’re talking about weeks [d’absence] “, he added.
Two other absent
CH were back in training on Monday, and two other regular players were also conspicuous by their absence. Defenseman Jeff Petry and forward Joel Armia did not skate as they were undergoing a day of treatment. “Their presence is uncertain [pour le prochain match] », Limited himself to saying Ducharme about them.
Seems like we lose an extra guy or two every night. I hope it will end one day.
Which suggests the possibility that defenseman Kale Clague, who was claimed on waivers this weekend from the Los Angeles Kings, could participate in a first game with his new team. Clague, who will wear number 43 with the Canadian, also took part in a first training session with his teammates on Monday.
In addition, Ducharme indicated that it will be necessary to be patient before seeing the defender Joel Edmundson in the tricolor uniform. “What we have as information is that he probably won’t need an operation. So he too will be [à l’écart] for a few weeks, ”he said.
Reunion with the champions
The Canadian will cross swords with the Tampa Bay Lightning (15-5-4) on Tuesday at the Bell Center, in a first duel between the two clubs since the Stanley Cup final series last summer. A period that already seems very distant.
“This is not the ideal situation. This is not what we planned, that’s for sure. We have what, nine guys on the injured list – and in that, I don’t even include Shea Weber – so we’re missing a lot of players to face Tampa. Every night, it seems like we have a new challenge ahead of us. Seems like we lose an extra guy or two every night. I hope it will end one day, ”summarized Ducharme, visibly exasperated.
The Lightning will try to sign a fourth straight victory, while the Habs will try to avoid a fourth loss in a row.