Montreal Canadiens forward Artturi Lehkonen will be sidelined for the next four to six weeks due to a broken finger. The injury occurred during the team’s game against the Ottawa Senators on February 6th, when Lehkonen blocked a shot with his hand.
Lehkonen has been an important player for the Canadiens this season, playing in all 20 games and recording four goals and two assists. He has been a key contributor on the team’s penalty kill and has been praised by his coaches for his defensive play.
The loss of Lehkonen will be a blow to the Canadiens, who are currently in fourth place in the North Division. The team will need to find a way to replace his production and defensive abilities while he is out of the lineup.
One player who could see an increased role in Lehkonen’s absence is rookie forward Cole Caufield. Caufield was drafted in the first round by the Canadiens in 2019 and has been playing for the team’s AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. He has been impressive in the AHL, scoring six goals and four assists in 13 games.
Another player who could step up is veteran forward Corey Perry. Perry has been a healthy scratch for several games this season but has shown flashes of his former self when given the opportunity to play. He has two goals and two assists in 14 games this season.
The Canadiens will also need their other forwards to step up and contribute more offensively. Players like Tyler Toffoli, Nick Suzuki, and Josh Anderson will need to continue to produce at a high level if the team hopes to stay competitive without Lehkonen.
Injuries are always a part of the game, and the Canadiens will need to find a way to overcome Lehkonen’s absence. The team has shown resilience this season, and they will need to continue to do so if they hope to make a deep playoff run.
