Patrik Laine "Fired Up" For Return; Linemates Set

It's been a long time coming, but Patrik Laine, the Montreal Canadiens' big offseason acquisition, will finally make his debut for the Habs. It comes Tuesday night against the New York Islanders at the Bell Centre.

LAINE IS BACK! 🔵⚪️🔴

Patrik Laine will make his regular-season debut for the @CanadiensMTL tonight against the Islanders! pic.twitter.com/HyMShCxj1a
— NHL (@NHL) December 3, 2024

Laine, who has been sidelined by a left knee sprain suffered in a preseason game in late September, hasn't dressed for an NHL game in 12 months, as he last played for the Columbus Blue Jackets last Dec. 14th, before suffering a fractured clavicle, then going into the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program for the rest of the season.

He'll make his Montreal debut on a line with Juraj Slafkovsky and Kirby Dach, both of whom have spent time on the top line this season. Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Alex Newhook will stay together as the top line in this one.

But Laine is pumped for his first regular season game in 355 days, especially to be able to do it at home in the incredible atmosphere in Montreal.

Patrik Laine, on making his return at the Bell Centre: “If somebody plays here and doesn’t get fired up, I think there’s something wrong with them. So, I don’t think that should be an issue. I think the crowd will be buzzing., as always, and hopefully, as we play, and with the…
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) December 3, 2024

“If somebody plays here and doesn’t get fired up, I think there’s something wrong with them," said Laine. "So, I don’t think that should be an issue. I think the crowd will be buzzing., as always, and hopefully, as we play, and with the way that we play tonight, we’re going to excite ‘em even more.”

Laine, still just 26, is a three-time 30+ goal scorer and a six-time 20+ goal scorer in his eight NHL seasons. He was the No. 2 overall selection in the 2016 NHL Draft by the Winnipeg Jets.

His debut comes at the right time for the Canadiens, who are dead last in the league in shots on goal, and 20th in goals per game. They are in last place in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference overall at 8-13-3.