Canadiens Lose Laine for Game 3 vs Capitals

Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine will miss Game 3 against the Washington Capitals due to an upper-body injury, after having been benched for the third period of Game 2 by coach Martin St. Louis for performance reasons. Laine's recent struggles include only one goal in his last 11 games, despite leading the team in power-play goals during the regular season. The Canadiens trail 2-0 in the first-round playoff series as it shifts to Quebec, with ongoing debate about whether physical defenseman Arber Xhekaj should be added to counter Washington's aggressive play. Coach St. Louis has weighed the potential benefits and risks of inserting Xhekaj, particularly the risk of increased penalties. Montreal faces the challenge of balancing skill and physicality to avoid falling further behind. Team leaders emphasize the need to match the Capitals' intensity and improve execution.