The Montreal Canadiens are heading into the final week of the season with one of the more exciting individual milestones in franchise history. But the celebration is being dampened by some real concerns on the blue line.
Here are the latest news and rumours as the Canadiens prepare for the playoffs.
Caufield Joins the 50-Goal Club
The wait is finally over. Cole Caufield officially hit the 50-goal mark on Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning, becoming the first Montreal Canadiens player to reach the milestone since Stephane Richer in 1990. The Bell Centre was electric as Caufield buried a wrist shot past Andrei Vasilevskiy, ending a 36-year drought for the storied franchise. He would go on to score number 51 against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.
Caufield now joins an elite club that includes Maurice Richard, Guy Lafleur, and Steve Shutt. Beyond the history, this goal was a big statement for Caufield, who has proven he is one of the best scorers in the league. With 50 goals in the bag and the “Rocket” Richard Trophy race coming down to the wire, the focus now shifts to what he can do in the playoffs.
Dobson & Carrier Injuries
While the offence is firing on all cylinders, the defence is suddenly looking very thin. The Canadiens were hit with a massive blow this weekend when Noah Dobson left Saturday’s game against the Blue Jackets with an upper-body injury. Dobson was seen leaving the arena in a cast after blocking a shot with his hand, and the team has officially announced he will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
This is a tough loss for the top pair, especially with Alexandre Carrier also sidelined. Carrier is expected to miss two to four weeks with his own upper-body injury, meaning the Canadiens could start the playoffs without two of their most reliable right-shot defencemen.
Reinbacher Gets the Call Up
With the injuries mounting, the Canadiens officially recalled David Reinbacher on Sunday morning, and the 2023 fifth-overall pick could make his NHL debut as early as this week. In his NHL debut against the New York Islanders, he recorded an assist for his first NHL point.
Related: 3 Questions Surrounding the Canadiens Ahead of the Playoffs
Reinbacher has been solid in the AHL, but asking a 21-year-old to step into a top-four role during a playoff push is a big ask. For a team that looked like a lock for home-ice advantage, these final games are now about survival and finding a way to stabilize the defence before the first-round puck drop on April 18.
