Christian Dvorak file: another Montreal Canadiens hideout?

We know that Christian Dvorak won’t be in uniform tonight, which will force Martin St-Louis to use 11 forwards, which will bring Sean Monahan back to center, and seven defensemen. The good news in all this (for one player): Johnathan Kovacevic will return to the defensive brigade.

Martin McGuire’s notes for tonight’s game:

– Dvorak upper-body injury. Will not play tonight, needs to be assessed.

– Kovacevic returns, so it’ll be 7 defensemen and 11 forwards tonight against the Lightning.

– Monahan will return to center.

– Balado Bon Match (@BaladoBonMatch) December 31, 2023

D-Vo was absent from practice on December 29, which indicates that he most likely aggravated his injury against the Florida Panthers. He’s one of the most familiar faces in the Montreal infirmary, having suffered several injuries, including a major knee injury (which led to surgery).

That said, Dvorak will be out indefinitely, as he will have to undergo further tests to find out the exact nature of his upper-body injury. Every time I hear this term, it pisses me off. When Jeff Gorton, Kent Hughes and Chantal Machabée took over, we were promised transparency in this area.

As a first step, the organization made a clean sweep of the medical staff section, but it doesn’t seem to be making much of a difference. The blue-white-and-red team is dealing with just as many injuries as last year.

Secondly, Chantal’s outings didn’t happen this year, unless I’ve lost a bit? You know… the outings she did last season to provide a medical update for the club’s cripples.

I’m a little tickled. The Montreal concession does a colossal job on many levels, but when it comes to the status of players and injuries, it’s all the same. Am I the only one cursed?

I just spoke with a source who told me that the Habs would say more once the results of tests on a “possible” shoulder injury (my contact’s guess ) were in. This contact also told me that D-Vo has been dealing with this injury for a long time.

On the move

– Another piece of good news from the Senators on the eve of 2024. The management team has been reworked!

News Release: Steve Staios has been appointed #Sens General Manager and President of Hockey Operations; Dave Poulin joins the team as Senior Vice-President, Hockey Operations; Ryan Bowness has been appointed the team’s Associate General Manager: https://t.co/ewBbHUNTf3 pic.twitter.com/Xaksy0RnBO

– Ottawa Senators (@Senators) December 31, 2023

– This sequence, which took place last year, was certainly memorable.

Coach Marty, will she finally get a selfie with you tonight?

pic.twitter.com/JrefE00SON

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) December 31, 2023

– Despite fond memories in Tampa, Martin St-Louis focuses on the Habs.

#Habs Martin St-Louis says he can’t help but think of the memories he had playing for the #GoBolts when he’s back in Tampa but he’s focused coaching and preparing his team to win a game so he doesn’t spent too much time going down memory lane.

– Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) December 31, 2023

– What a career!

Another prestigious plateau for Flower. He’ll play the 1000th game of his career this afternoon against the Jets!https://t.co/fO4eJeHZWt pic.twitter.com/aICOkBxduX

– RDS (@RDSca) December 31, 2023