Canadiens' Patrik Laine: Scores in back-to-back games
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Laine scored a power-play goal in Thursday's 3-0 win over the Predators.
Laine sustained a knee injury in the preseason and didn't make his season debut until Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Islanders, but he's made his presence felt. He's now recorded power-play goals in his first two contests, and he should continue to see plenty of opportunities to produce as a top-six forward and member of the first power-play unit. This is Laine's first year with the Canadiens after spending the previous three seasons with the Blue Jackets.
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Canadiens' Patrik Laine: Scores in return
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Laine scored a power-play goal, fired two shots on net, blocked a shot and recorded two hits in Tuesday's 2-1 overtime win over the Islanders.
Laine made his season debut after missing the first 24 games due to a knee injury. He gave the offensively challenged Canadiens a lift when he sniped a shot from the faceoff circle past Ilya Sorokin. Laine joined the second line and was put on the first power-play unit. He finished with 17:27 TOI.
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Canadiens' Patrik Laine: Returning to lineup
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Laine will make his 2024-25 season debut Tuesday against the Islanders.
Laine will slot in on a line with Kirby Dach and Juraj Slafkovsky. It may take some time for Laine to get readjusted to the speed of the NHL -- in addition to not playing yet this season, Laine suited up for just 18 regular-season games in 2023-24. The right-shot winger should see top-six minutes along with power-play time against the Islanders.
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Canadiens' Patrik Laine: Will travel with team
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Laine (knee) is set to travel with the Canadiens on their upcoming three-game road trip, which begins Wednesday in Columbus, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports.
It's unclear if Laine will be activated for Wednesday's matchup against his old team. The 26-year-old winger looks to be close enough to a return to be unofficially in the day-to-day range after switching from non-contact status to a full participant in Monday's practice. In any case, Laine's return will likely have a ripple effect through Montreal's lineup, as he'll command a top-six role and power-play time once cleared to play.
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Canadiens' Patrik Laine: Practices in regular jersey
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Laine (knee) practiced in a regular jersey Monday, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.
Laine resumed skating with his teammates last Wednesday, but he was in a non-contact sweater. However, he took another step in his recovery process Monday by shedding his non-contact jersey. The 26-year-old Laine has been sidelined since September, so he could require some time to get back up to speed before he returns to action for the Canadiens. He could be back in action in early December, and he'll likely be in the mix for roles in the top six and on the No. 1 power-play unit once he's deemed fully healthy.
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Canadiens' Patrik Laine: Skating with teammates
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Laine (knee) took the ice in a non-contact sweater Wednesday, making his first time skating with teammates since suffering his knee injury in September, Sportsnet reports.
Laine's timeline hasn't changed, with the 26-year-old winger expected back sometime in December given his 2-3 month recovery. Still, it's a step in the right direction for the Finn, who was undoubtedly eager to put together a bounce-back 2024-25 campaign after seeing action in a mere 18 games last year. Once Laine rejoins the lineup, he should push for roles on both the first line and No. 1 power-play unit.
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Canadiens' Patrik Laine: Designated for LTIR
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Laine (knee), as expected, was placed on long-term injured reserve by the Habs on Tuesday, per PuckPedia.
Laine is not expected back until December at the earliest, so his placement on LTIR was almost a foregone conclusion. Even with his extended stint on the shelf, the 26-year-old winger could still challenge for the 50-point threshold this year, though he'll need to produce at nearly a point-per-game pace to do so. Once given the all-clear, Laine should be a lock for a top-six role in addition to linking up with the No. 1 power-play unit.
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Canadiens' Patrik Laine: Facing extended absence
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Laine is expected to be sidelined for 2-3 months with a left knee sprain but won't require surgery, the team announced Tuesday.
Given how bad Laine's injury initially looked, 2-3 months certainly feels like good news for the winger. Still, it's another injury-plagued season for the 26-year-old Finn after he was limited to just 18 outings with Columbus last year. When he was healthy, Laine offered top-end offensive output with six goals and three assists, including two power-play points. Without Laine in the lineup, Josh Anderson likely has the inside track on a top-six role. Look for Laine to be placed on long-term injured reserve when the season starts.
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Canadiens' Patrik Laine: Leaves game with injury
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Laine (knee) left Saturday's game after a dangerous knee-on-knee hit, reports TSN.ca.
Toronto's Cedric Pare was flatfooted as Laine entered the Maple Leafs' zone, and it appeared that he stuck out his knee. Laine required assistance to get down the tunnel and was seen throwing his glove and helmet in frustration. Laine has been snakebitten with injuries most of his career and this doesn't look good.
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Canadiens' Patrik Laine: Skating with new team
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Laine (collarbone) hit the ice with his new teammates ahead of training camp, Luc Gelinas of RDS reports Wednesday.
Laine was acquired by the Canadiens from Columbus in a mid-August trade that saw Jordan Harris headed the other way. Between his collarbone injury and time in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program, the 26-year-old Laine was limited to just 18 games last season. When he was healthy, the Finn was fairly productive, registering six goals on 41 shots and three assists, including two power-play points. He figures to take on a top-six role with Montreal and should see plenty of opportunities with the No. 1 power-play unit.
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Canadiens' Patrik Laine: Obtained in trade
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Montreal acquired Laine (collarbone) and a 2026 second-round pick from Columbus on Monday in exchange for Jordan Harris.
Laine generated six goals, nine points, 41 shots on net and 14 blocked shots across 18 regular-season appearances with the Blue Jackets in 2023-24. He has been cleared to return from the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program but is still recovering from a clavicle fracture he sustained against Toronto on Dec. 14. If he is good to go for the beginning of 2024-25, Laine could return to the 50-point plateau with the Canadiens while playing in the top six and seeing time on the power play.
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Blue Jackets' Patrik Laine: Cleared from Assistance Program
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Laine (personal) was cleared by the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on Friday, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Laine entered the program in late January after missing 17 games with a fractured clavicle. Laine only played in 18 regular-season games with the Blue Jackets in 2023-24, scoring six goals and adding three assists. He has requested a trade out of Columbus and should find a new home before the start of training camp.
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Blue Jackets' Patrik Laine: Enters Player Assistance program
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Laine (collarbone) entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on Sunday.
Laine has already missed 17 games with a fractured clavicle, and it now appears he'll be away from the Blue Jackets indefinitely. He'll enter the Player Assistance Program after reportedly suffering a setback in his recovery from the injury. The 25-year-old winger had six goals and nine points in 18 games prior to the injury.
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Blue Jackets' Patrik Laine: Suffers setback
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Laine is heading back to Columbus after suffering a setback in his attempt to return from a collarbone injury, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports Saturday. He will miss the Blue Jackets' final three games before the All-Star break.
Laine hasn't been in the lineup since Dec. 14 due to the injury. He has six goals and nine points in 18 contests this season. When Laine's available, the 25-year-old should play in a middle-six capacity and receive a power-play role.
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Blue Jackets' Patrik Laine: Could return by end of trip
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Laine (collarbone) could be ready to return by the end of Columbus' upcoming five-game road trip, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
The Blue Jackets' road trip begins Tuesday in Edmonton and ends Jan. 30 against the Blues. Once healthy, look for Laine, who's picked up six goals and nine points through 18 contests this season, to return to a middle-six role and a spot on one of Columbus' power-play units.
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Blue Jackets' Patrik Laine: Back on the ice
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Laine (collarbone) has resumed skating but his return doesn't appear to be imminent, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Laine is about five weeks into his recovery after initially being given a six-week timeline to return. While he's making progress, it sounds like he could be out for a bit longer than expected. The 25-year-old had nine points and a minus-10 rating through 18 games prior to the injury.
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Blue Jackets' Patrik Laine: Shifts to IR
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Laine (fractured clavicle) was placed on injured reserve Monday.
In a corresponding move, Brendan Gaunce was called up from AHL Cleveland on Monday. Laine was injured against Toronto on Thursday and was expected to be sidelined for six weeks, so his move to the IR list won't change his timetable for a return. He has generated six goals, nine points, 41 shots on net and 14 blocked shots over 18 outings this season.
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Blue Jackets' Patrik Laine: Suffers fractured clavicle
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Laine will be out of action for six weeks after suffering a clavicle fracture against Toronto on Thursday.
Based on his recovery timeline, Laine shouldn't be expected back until late January at the earliest. In his last six contests, the Finnish winger notched points in five of those outings, including one goal and one assist with the man advantage. Mathieu Olivier figures to move into the lineup with Laine on the shelf.
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Blue Jackets' Patrik Laine: Sustains upper-body injury
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Laine suffered an upper-body injury during Thursday's game against Toronto and won't return to the contest.
Laine crashed into the boards after being tripped by Toronto's William Lagesson, per Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site. The Blue Jackets forward was seen holding his left shoulder as he left the ice, according to Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch. Laine scored Thursday before exiting the game, giving him six goals and nine points in 18 outings this year. If he can't play Saturday versus New Jersey, then Mathieu Olivier might draw back into the lineup.
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Blue Jackets' Patrik Laine: Good to go
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Laine (illness) will return to the lineup Sunday against Florida, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Laine, who sat out the past three contests, has generated five goals, seven points, 36 shots on net and 13 blocked shots over 16 appearances this season. He will replace Mathieu Olivier in the lineup.
