When it comes to major injuries, the Canadiens know better than most how a single one can send a season spiraling downward. Now they'll need to get by without their most dynamic offensive player.
Alex Galchenyuk, the team's No. 1 center and leading scorer, will miss six to eight weeks with a knee injury, the team announced Wednesday.
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Galchenyuk was injured Sunday in a collision with Kings forward Anze Kopitar, and his absence will be felt immediately by a slumping offense that has scored just 25 goals in the past 11 games (2.27 goals per game). The 22-year-old leads the Habs in points (23) and goals (nine).
To make matters worse, David Desharnais, who centered Montreal's top line in Galchenyuk's stead during Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the St. Louis, also is expected to be out six to eight weeks with a knee injury, leaving the Canadiens with little depth down the middle for the next two months.
The Habs lead the Eastern Conference with 37 points (17-6-3), but are just 4-4-2 in their last 10 games.
Galchenyuk's injury in particular will serve as a too-soon reminder of the 2015-16 season, when Montreal squandered a hot start and failed to make the playoffs in the absence of franchise goalie Carey Price, who played only 12 games.