Canadiens Face Mounting Injury Crisis as Kirby Dach Sidelined
The Montreal Canadiens' injury woes have deepened significantly with the announcement that forward Kirby Dach will miss four to six weeks after suffering a fractured right foot. The injury occurred during Saturday night's 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins at the Bell Centre, dealing another blow to the struggling team.
Growing List of Injured Players
Dach's injury represents the latest in a series of significant setbacks for the Canadiens. The team recently lost forward Alex Newhook, who underwent surgery for a fractured right ankle following Thursday's 7-0 defeat against the Dallas Stars. Defenceman Kaiden Guhle is also facing an extended absence after surgery to repair a partially torn adductor muscle, with his recovery expected to take eight to ten weeks.
The injury list doesn't end there. Forward Patrik Laine remains sidelined as he recovers from core muscle surgery performed on October 24, with an initial prognosis of three to four months before returning to action. Guhle's situation is particularly concerning as he has managed to play only five games this season since originally getting injured on October 16.
Team Calls Up Replacement Amid Struggles
In response to the mounting injuries, the Canadiens have recalled forward Joshua Roy from the AHL's Laval Rocket. Roy will join the team in Columbus ahead of Monday's game against the Blue Jackets. The young forward has demonstrated promising performance with the Rocket this season, recording 4 goals and 3 assists for 7 points in 10 games.
The Canadiens practiced Sunday morning in Brossard before traveling to Columbus for Monday's 7 p.m. matchup, which will be broadcast on Prime and RDS. Defenceman Jayden Struble was notably absent from practice, taking what the team described as a therapy day.
This marks the third consecutive season that Dach has faced serious injury setbacks. During the 2023-24 season, he played only two games before requiring surgery for torn ACL and MCL ligaments in his right knee. Last season, Dach managed 57 games before reinjuring the same knee, tearing the ACL and requiring additional surgery.
Before this latest injury, Dach had contributed 5 goals and 2 assists for 7 points in 15 games this season. The Canadiens have now lost three straight games, seeing their record fall to 10-6-2 and dropping to second place in the Atlantic Division, two points behind the Boston Bruins.
