Canadiens’ Emil Heineman to return following 14-game absence due to lower-body injury

Montreal Canadiens left winger Emil Heineman will return to the lineup Saturday versus the Atlantic Division rival Ottawa Senators after missing the past 14 games due to a lower-body injury.

Heineman had been sidelined since mid-January after he was hit by a car while crossing the street in Salt Lake City prior to a road contest against the Utah Hockey Club.

Through his first full season with the Canadiens, the 23-year-old Swedish-born forward has made 41 appearances in which he has registered 10 goals and seven assists for 17 points alongside 14 penalty minutes and a plus-two rating. Last season, Heineman split time between the Canadiens and the AHL affiliated Laval Rocket, counting four games with Montreal in which he was plus-two, while through 48 outings with the Rocket he scored 15 times and added 14 assists for 29 points.

Originally chosen 43rd overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2020 NHL Draft, Heineman was dealt to the Calgary Flames the following year in a deal for forward Sam Bennett, while in 2022 he was moved once again, this time to the Canadiens in the trade that shipped forward Tyler Toffoli to Alberta. Heineman then made his North American debut with the Rocket in 2022-23, putting up seven goals and two assists for nine points through 11 appearances.

Entering Saturday’s contest against the Senators, the Canadiens sit 25-26-5 on the season and seven points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the second wildcard seed in the Eastern Conference. The Senators and Canadiens have met once previously this season, a mid-October contest in which Heineman scored the game-opening goal en route to a 4-1 victory on home ice.

The Canadiens have not qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the past three seasons. Should Montreal miss this year’s postseason, it will mark the longest playoff drought in franchise history.