Oliver Kapanen Out For Season Opener

The Montreal Canadiens have reported that they will be without centre Oliver Kapanen for their season opener on Tuesday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Kapanen has been listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury and was not on the ice for the official practice of the regular season on Monday morning.

The 23-year-old’s linemates for the majority of training camp, Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov, were centred by Alex Newhook at practice on Monday. Newhook will likely keep that spot in the lineup for Tuesday’s season opener.

Oliver Kapanen played all 82 games during the regular season last year, where he recorded 22 goals and 37 points in what was his full campaign in the NHL. He also suited up in seven postseason games for the Canadiens during last year’s playoff run, where he was held scoreless.

The injury to Kapanen also led to two new forward line combinations that were not seen during the preseason. Veteran centre Phillip Danault was centring a line with Alexandre Texier and Kirby Dach. Meanwhile, Jake Evans was put in between Zach Bolduc and Josh Anderson. Florian Xhekaj rotated in as the 13th forward on the Evans line, both on the wing and at centre.

The defensive pairings stayed the same as they were for most of the preseason, with Mike Matheson and Noah Dobson paired together, Lane Hutson alongside Alexandre Carrier, and Arber Xhekaj practicing with Jayden Struble. Adam Engstrom skated as the team’s seventh defenseman.

In other news, all nine players that the Canadiens placed on waivers on Sunday  cleared waivers and will join the Laval Rocket.

Here were the Montreal Canadiens’ lines from practice on Monday:

Forwards:

Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Chris Kreider

Juraj Slafkovsky – Alex Newhook – Ivan Demidov

Alexandre Texier – Phillip Danault – Kirby Dach

Zach Bolduc – Jake Evans – Josh Anderson

Florian Xhekaj

Defense:

Mike Matheson – Noah Dobson

Lane Hutson – Alexandre Carrier

Arber Xhekaj – Jayden Struble

Adam Engstrom

Goalies:

Jakub Dobes

Samuel Montembeault

IR: Kaiden Guhle, Bryce Pickford, and Oliver Kapanen