Canadiens: David Savard's Injury Worse Than Initially Expected

Many Montreal Canadiens fans will remember the heroic penalty kill shift by David Savard without one skate blade that ultimately resulted in an injury. It has now been revealed that the defenseman will miss 6-8 weeks with a fractured hand. The injury came on a Tage Thompson shot in the game against the Buffalo Sabres in which the Canadiens won.

The Canadiens have now fallen victim to losing a player in three of the first five games of the season and is one of five players on the roster who is injured, joining Kirby Dach, Kaiden Guhle, Christian Dvorak, and Chris Wideman.

While the Canadiens are in a rebuilding stage, injuries are never a good thing. Last season they were sunk by a heap of injuries as well, but it does allow for players to step in and find opportunities. One player in particular that will now see even more ice time is Justin Barron who has two goals in three games and is now serving as the top pairing right defenseman.

Gustav Lindstrom, who was acquired by the Detroit Red Wings in the Jeff Petry trade, has also been called up and is in the lineup. He initially didn't make the cut for the team, but has served as a seventh defenseman in Detroit for the past two seasons. In five games this season, Savard has two assists, is averaging over 20 minutes a night, and 14 blocked shots. This is a big defensive role to fill for the time being.