A freaky collision has led to one of the depth forwards on the Montreal Canadiens leaving the ice in pain, again.
During Saturday’s game against the Dallas Stars, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard had to leave the game prematurely due to a lower-body injury.
The incident occurred early in the second period, when Harvey-Pinard was trying to chase down the puck in the neutral zone and accidentally ran into teammate Joel Armia. Armia ended up falling on top of the 25-year-old.
Harvey-Pinard had to be helped off the ice by the Habs’ training staff. It is expected that he will be re-evaluated over the next couple of days to determine the extent of his injury.
It has been a rough season for the fourth-year pro. On November 2, Harvey-Pinard left a game early against the Arizona Coyotes with a lower-body injury. He ended up missing three games, but in just his third game back, the Saguenay, Quebec native was injured again, and eventually was placed on injured reserve, missing 24 games.
He finally returned to the lineup on Jan. 11. In his 10 games since, Harvey-Pinard has scored one and two assists. In 23 games, the 2019 seventh-round pick has totaled just a goal and six assists.
Harvey-Pinard has suffered lower-body injuries multiple times over the last few seasons, including one in April of last season.
In 61 career NHL games, he has amassed 16 goals and 12 assists.
The former Rouyn-Noranda Husky is in the first of a two-year contract that he signed this past offseason with the Habs, with an AAV of $1.1 million.
The Canadiens (21-22-8) are scheduled to host the St. Louis Blues on Sunday. They are sixth in the Atlantic Division, 10 points back of the Detroit Red Wings, who hold the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
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