Jake Evans left Canadiens practice early this morning after contact with Nick Suzuki, and he appeared to be bothered by a leg.
Montreal hits the ice again Tuesday against the Wild, so the clock is already ticking on whatever comes next.
The report from practice says Evans looked uncomfortable with a leg after the contact with his captain, and he had not returned at last word.
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Nothing official has come from the team, and no injury is listed for Evans on the latest report. That could change quickly once Martin St-Louis meets the media.
The timing stings a little. Evans has 6 points in 17 games this season, including a short-handed goal, and he's a +4 on a team that has been rolling.
For a league-wide look at it, the Canadiens are 11-3-3 and sit second in the Atlantic Division. They are 8-0-2 over their last 10, so a depth center going down is not a small thing for a club trying to hold that pace.
Suzuki is part of the story too, though only as the other player involved. He just returned to the lineup Thursday after we passed along Martin St-Louis's doubts about Nick Suzuki's condition, and he has 15 points in 11 games since.
What a missing Evans would mean for Montreal's lineup
Evans is a trusted two-way center, the type of player a coach leans on to shut down matchups and kill penalties. Losing him for even one game would force St-Louis to reshuffle his middle six against a Minnesota team that is arriving with its own lineup questions.
It would also put a spotlight back on the player himself. We recently looked at Jake Evans' Montreal comments that had fans thinking about Dylan Larkin, and a leg issue is the last thing he wants attached to his name right now.
My read: if Evans is even slightly doubtful, Montreal should be careful. A team with a 8-0-2 run can afford to give a 30-year-old penalty killer an extra day.
The next update should come from St-Louis or the team ahead of Tuesday's puck drop against the Wild.
Quick hits
MINNESOTA WILD: Quinn Hughes will play in Montreal after missing practice for Keith Tkachuk's Hall of Fame induction. Joe Smith has the update. That's a big answer for Minnesota before a tough road game.
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CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS: Elliotte Friedman said this morning that Chicago is trying to do something, and offensive help is the target. Picks look like the currency. Expect this one to keep growing.
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COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS: Sean Monahan and Denton Mateychuk were among the early players on the ice before Monday's practice, according to Aaron Portzline. Columbus hosts the Panthers next, so every skater matters.
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EDMONTON OILERS: Connor McDavid can join Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux in the history books tonight when the Oilers host the Rangers. That's rare company, and it could happen at home.
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INJURY: Bruce LeVine hinted that good news is likely coming on Miro Heiskanen after the Stars loaned Trey Taylor back to the AHL. Dallas fans will be watching for the official word.
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Should the Canadiens sit Jake Evans against the Wild as a precaution?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Maple Leafs solve massive problem in blockbuster captain trade proposal: Dylan Larkin
