Another tile hit the head of the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday morning.
The names of forward Brendan Gallagher and defenseman Sami Niku have been placed on the list of players subject to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol, the Canadiens announced Thursday morning.
“It’s curved balls”, first mentioned the head coach of the Canadian, Dominique Ducharme, laughing yellow. He also clarified that the two players did not show any apparent symptoms of COVID-19.
The two players are closely monitored by the team’s doctors, and respect the guidelines and protocols put in place by the NHL, added the Canadian, in a tweet.
They are the first Canadiens players to be added to this protocol this season – general manager Marc Bergevin was also added before his dismissal – which means they will miss the game in the evening against the Colorado Avalanche. A challenge that promises to be tough, according to the Habs head coach.
“They won’t be happy, that’s for sure. They didn’t like their defeat yesterday [de 8-3 face aux Maple Leafs de Toronto]. It will require being ready, playing energetically, and taking time and space away from a player like [Nathan] MacKinnon, but also [Mikko] Rantanen and their supporters too, who are very mobile and dynamic. We will have to be in their face, ”said Ducharme.
The bad news has overshadowed Ducharme’s announcement that Mathieu Perreault, Brett Kulak and Chris Wideman will return to the roster for tonight’s game.
“We have three returning, two leaving, so we are plus-1. It’s positive, said Ducharme. Yesterday they [Perreault, Kulak et Wideman] had to train with contacts, it went well for them, so yes, they are all 100%. “
These numerous changes forced Ducharme to reshuffle his lines, once again, in anticipation of the game against the Avalanche. Cole Caufield was thus demoted to the fourth line, along with Michael Pezzetta and Perreault.
The Quebecker confided that regardless of his teammates, his mandate did not change – “I have to bring energy, be effective on defense and create chances to score in attack when they arise,” he said. .
Perreault also took the opportunity to review the two operations on one eye that he recently underwent.
“It was worrying at one point, when you were losing your vision and you knew it wasn’t normal. There was a first intervention, and the results were not as good as expected, so a second intervention was needed [différente de la première]. This one worked, so I was very happy to see that it worked and that I was going to be able to come back with normal vision, ”he said.
In order to avoid a possible outbreak within the team, Ducharme mentioned that all members of the organization must now wear the mask at all times, except on the rink.
“They [les joueurs] have no right to go out, no right not to do. We return to the bubble for 10 days, ”he said.
“There is a little fear of an outbreak. We want to limit that as much as possible. Two guys have it, we try to protect ourselves by wearing our masks, to keep our distance, and we just have to be careful that we don’t get caught with an outbreak. And that we have to miss games. So we will be careful, ”added Perreault.
Under the league’s COVID-19 protocol put in place this season, Gallagher and Niku will need to quarantine themselves for at least 10 days, get two consecutive negative tests and receive the green light from medics before returning to their post.
In 23 games this season, Gallagher has four goals and six assists. For his part, Niku had three assists in nine games.
The NHL has postponed five games so far this season – three for the Ottawa Senators, and two for the New York Islanders – but the league’s activities haven’t been affected as much as it was last year so far. here.
Meanwhile, Ducharme briefly discussed his first meeting with the Canadiens’ new director of hockey operations, Jeff Gorton, on Wednesday afternoon.
“We had a good conversation. Jeff is a calm, thoughtful, intelligent guy. It was a good discussion, and we will definitely have a good chemistry. I’m not worried at all on that side, ”he said.
Suzuki wins the Molson Cup
Forward Nick Suzuki has been named the Molson Cup recipient for the November segment.
Suzuki has been named the first star on two occasions [le 2 novembre contre les Red Wings de Detroit et le 11 novembre contre les Flames de Calgary], the second star on one occasion [le 6 novembre contre les Golden Vegas] and the third star once [le 4 novembre contre les Islanders de New York].
He edged out teammates Josh Anderson and Jake Allen, the recipient in October.
In 14 games in November, the 22-year-old center led the team with four goals [à égalité avec Tyler Toffoli] and added six assists, totaling 10 points. Suzuki notably enjoyed a three-game streak with at least one point [du 2 au 6 novembre], during which he amassed seven points.