Canadiens' Laine suffers upper-body injury vs. Blue Jackets

Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine suffered an upper-body injury during Monday's 5-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

There was no update postgame on the severity of his injury.

It isn't clear how Laine got hurt, but he collided with Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov early in the first period.

The Finn played 6:15 of ice time in the opening frame. Montreal initially listed Laine as questionable to return, though he missed the remainder of the game.

Laine's 2024-25 debut was delayed until early December due to a preseason knee injury, but he's been a bright spot on the ice for the Habs ever since. He racked up eight power-play goals in his first nine games of the campaign before taking on Columbus.

The sniper spent the last four seasons with the Blue Jackets before being traded to Montreal in August. Laine said prior to Monday's contest that his old team was "too comfortable" with losing.

Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski responded to Laine's comments after the game, calling them "unacceptable."

The Canadiens don't play again until Saturday against the Florida Panthers.