Montreal Canadiens’ Kaiden Guhle and Arber Xhekaj out with upper-body injuries
A couple of players are expected to miss time for the foreseeable future.
On Saturday, the Montreal Canadiens announced that defenseman Kaiden Guhle is day-to-day with an upper-body injury. Arber Xhekaj is also out with an upper-body injury, and will miss Saturday night’s matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, the team will not know how long he will be out of the lineup, pending further evaluation.
In the meantime, the Habs have called up defenseman Justin Barrom from their American Hockey League affiliate, Laval Rocket, on an emergency recall.
Defensemen Kaiden Guhle (upper body, day-to-day) and Arber Xhekaj (upper body, further update to come pending evaluation) will not be available to play tonight. Defenseman Justin Barron was recalled from the Laval Rocket (emergency recall).#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/MZjrbgau4k
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 6, 2024Guhle was injured during Thursday night’s against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Early in the contest, when the 22-year-old was hit hard behind the Canadiens’ net by Nikita Kucherov. Guhle was on the ice for a couple of minutes, before skating off the ice under his own power.
Guhle has to return to the locker room after this hit from Kucherov. pic.twitter.com/YoEBVTWpoJ
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) April 4, 2024Xhekaj was involved in another physical incident in the same game. In the third period, after Lightning captain Steven Stamkos collided with teammate Brandon Hagel, Tampa’s Mikey Eyssimont thought Xhekaj, who was near the play, had been involved and went after him.
The two had a brief skirmish, but nothing led to full-blown fisticuffs.
Guhle has to return to the locker room after this hit from Kucherov. pic.twitter.com/YoEBVTWpoJ
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) April 4, 2024Guhle has already missed some time due to injury this season. In October, another upper-body injury kept him out of the lineup for four games. In 70 games, the Edmonton native has scored six goals and 16 assists.
Xhekaj was also out of the lineup for a considerable time. An upper-body injury in November led to his placement on injured reserve. After being loaned to Laval in early December, the Canadiens recalled him in late January. In 44 games, the 23-year-old has scored three goals and seven assists.
Barron has been up and down with the Canadiens and Rocket this season. He was last sent down to the AHL when Xhekaj returned to Montreal on Jan. 22. In 41 games in the NHL this season, the Halifax native has potted six goals and 12 points.
The Canadiens (29-34-12) are at the bottom of the Atlantic, eight points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets for the worst record in the Eastern Conference.