Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher was placed on long-term injured reserve with a broken right thumb, the team announced Wednesday.
The move will keep the alternate captain sidelined for at least six weeks. The Canadiens’ regular season ends on May 10.
“He’s still seeing the doctors and I think from what I understand, he needs just a little bit of time to see, with the swelling and everything, to make sure everything is in place,” Canadiens interim coach Dominique Ducharme said. “We’re confident he won’t need that, but you never know.”
Gallagher, 28, sustained the injury on Monday after he was on the receiving end of a slapshot from teammate Alexander Romanov during the first period of Montreal’s 3-2 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers.
Gallagher has recorded 23 points (14 goals, nine assists) in 35 games this season. He has led or shared the team lead in goals in each of the three previous seasons.
Related: NHL games today – 2022 NHL offseason calendar, NHL Draft, free agency
Gallagher has 357 points (187 goals, 170 assists) in 582 career games since being selected by the Canadiens in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Draft.
–Field Level Media