Laine helped off ice after knee-on-knee hit
Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine left Saturday's exhibition contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs after opposing forward Cedric Pare hit him knee-on-knee early in the first period.
Patrik Laine is forced to leave the game with a knee injury after colliding with Cedric Pare. pic.twitter.com/3rAOIRrfrQ
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) September 28, 2024
Laine had to be helped off the ice and Pare wasn't penalized on the play. The incident happened not long after Laine's teammate, David Reinbacher, exited with an injury of his own.
This didn't look like a lot of contact, but Reinbacher left the game in a lot of pain after this play.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/oMgLy28Dfe
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) September 28, 2024
The Canadiens later ruled both Laine and Reinbacher out for the rest of the matchup.
Habs head coach Martin St. Louis had no update on Laine's condition postgame, but added that he felt a penalty should've been called on Pare, according to the Montreal Gazette's Stu Cowan.
Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj retaliated in an ensuing shift by fighting Pare. The officials gave him 17 minutes of penalties including a game misconduct.
Arber Xhekaj unloads on Pare after he injured Laine. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/lq75y4fMmN
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) September 28, 2024
Xhekaj was fined $3,385.42, the maximum allowable fine, for unsportsmanlike conduct on Sunday.
Laine is in his first season with the Canadiens. The Columbus Blue Jackets traded the 26-year-old Finn and a second-round pick to Montreal for blue-liner Jordan Harris in August.
Laine has dealt with numerous injuries in his eight-year career. He was limited to 18 games last season because he entered the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.