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Bad news for the Montreal Canadiens on January 1, 2026.
A few minutes before the start of the game between the Habs and the Carolina Hurricanes, the Montreal club announced that Mike Matheson would not be in uniform.
Jayden Struble will take his place in the lineup, as Arber Xhekaj and Adam Engstrom were already in the lineup for the last game against the Panthers.
However, it is Adam Engstrom who will play with Noah Dobson on the first pair. A great opportunity for the young defenseman.
Defenseman Mike Matheson (upper body) will not play in tonight's game. Defenseman Adam Engstrom will take his place in the lineup.
Defenseman Mike Matheson (upper body) will not play tonight. Defenseman Adam Engstrom will suit up in tonight's game. pic.twitter.com/1yVIyskh8D
– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) January 1, 2026
It's a real shame for the Habs, because as we know, Mike Matheson is a pillar of the Habs' defensive brigade.
He's still playing some very good hockey and putting in big minutes.
We can therefore expect to see Lane Hutson play even more minutes than he already does.
As the Canadiens' tweet mentions, Matheson will be out with an upper-body injury.
So it's really easy to make a connection with Brad Marchand's elbow to the head (which, by the way, was not punished on the sequence).
Meanwhile, Marchand (who, by the way, has been named to Team Canada for the Olympics) is preparing for tomorrow's Winter Classic game.
Wonder why NHL didn't suspend Brad Marchand for intentionally elbowing #Habs Mike Matheson in the head? Matheson won't play tonight in Carolina because of “upper-body injury” but Marchand will play in Winter Classic tomorrow. https://t.co/r8JI5OV78F
– Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) January 1, 2026
Can't say it wasn't blatant, either… It was clear as day that the head was targeted with the elbow of the Panthers' plague.
Extension
Now that Adam Engstrom, Jayden Struble, and Arber Xhekaj are all in the lineup, it's the perfect time for them to show who's most deserving of keeping his job on a regular basis.
