Matheson returns, Suzuki sidelined: Canadiens evening report

It’s a mixed-news evening for the Montreal Canadiens: help is arriving on the blue line just as the team absorbs a major blow down the middle. All of this comes a few hours before puck drop in Chicago against the Blackhawks.

Mike Matheson back for tonight’s game in Chicago

Both La Presse and Sportsnet report that Mike Matheson will return to the Canadiens lineup tonight against the Blackhawks. His presence gives the Habs a significant boost on defence heading into the road matchup in Chicago. While how exactly he will be used isn’t specified, simply having him available should bring added stability to the back end at an important moment in the early schedule.

Nick Suzuki’s injury becomes major early-season test

On the flip side, The Hockey Writers reports that captain Nick Suzuki is expected to miss two to four weeks due to injury. The outlet describes this as a massive blow for a team trying to build on last season’s success and prove it can be a legitimate playoff contender. Losing what The Hockey Writers calls the Canadiens’ most important player raises the degree of difficulty for the next stretch of games.

In another piece, The Hockey Writers notes that injuries to key players are piling up and that the Canadiens are looking more pedestrian than pre-season projections suggested. The same outlet argues that the club will need to look to the AHL’s Laval Rocket to help weather this storm, underscoring how much the depth of the organization may be tested while Suzuki is out.

Next up: Blackhawks tonight, standings tightening

The Canadiens visit the Chicago Blackhawks tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET in Montreal time. Montreal currently sits 7th in the Atlantic Division with 10 points through 9 games (4-3-2) and will try to strengthen its position in a tight early-season race.

Looking around the league, The Hockey Writers points out that the Buffalo Sabres’ furious comeback against Montreal recently earned Buffalo its fourth point in three games, another example of how quickly momentum can swing. The same outlet also highlights notable milestones in NHL history that occurred on October 23, including achievements by some of the league’s greatest scorers, a reminder that the season can turn on key moments—good or bad—at any time.