Canadiens’ Alexandre Carrier leaves game against Penguins

The Montreal Canadiens may have lost a blueliner in just their second game of the season.

During Saturday’s 6-5 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, defenseman Alexandre Carrier was forced to leave for Montreal’s dressing room with an injury. The Canadiens confirmed that Carrier would not return to the game.

The injury appeared to occur when Carrier was thrown down by Penguins forward Egor Chinakhov on the forecheck, causing his neck/shoulder area to slam forcefully into the boards.

Carrier, 29, had a goal and an assist while playing almost 22 minutes in Montreal’s season-opening 3-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on September 29.

The Quebec City native put up seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points in 73 games for the Canadiens last season, while averaging just over 19 minutes of ice time. He then contributed a goal and six assists for seven points while averaging a tick over 22 minutes of ice time in 19 playoff games during Montreal’s run to the Eastern Conference final.

Initially selected by the Nashville Predators in the fourth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Carrier became a full-time NHLer for Nashville in the 2021-22 season, in which he notched three goals and 27 assists for a career-best 30 points in 77 games.

After another two-plus seasons with the Predators, Carrier was traded to the Canadiens in December of 2024 in exchange for defenseman Justin Barron. In 51 games for Montreal to finish the 2024-25 season, he registered two goals and 16 assists for 18 points.

Carrier is in the final season of a three-year, $11.25 million contract with Montreal, and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.

The Canadiens, who have earned three points through two games, will host the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes in their home opener on Tuesday.