The Montreal Canadiens are trying to hold their place in a close Atlantic Division race. But the team now has another issue to manage after a forward left a recent game early because of an injury.
On Tuesday, Montreal shared an update on the player’s condition, and the news means the Canadiens must adjust their lineup for the next few games while he recovers.
Montreal Canadiens Announce Forward Kirby Dach Injury Timeline After Ducks Game
The Kirby Dach injury has forced the Montreal Canadiens to make adjustments as the regular season continues. The team announced that Dach will miss two to four weeks with an upper-body injury after additional medical evaluation.
The injury occurred during Sunday’s matchup against the Anaheim Ducks. Dach was on the ice just 3 minutes into the first period when Ducks winger Jeffrey Viel made contact as the Canadiens center tried to swat a loose puck. The play ended with Dach falling to the ice and appearing to hold his face before getting up.
After the hit, Dach slowly skated toward the bench and went to the dressing room. He did not return to the game and was later ruled out for the remainder of the night.
Montreal has now confirmed the update publicly and wrote on X, “Forward Kirby Dach will be out for 2 to 4 weeks due to an upper-body injury.” The timeline suggests he will likely remain sidelined until early April if his recovery stays on track.
The setback continues a season in which Dach has already missed time with injuries. Earlier this year, he sat out 31 games with a fractured foot between November 2025 and January 2026.
Before leaving Sunday’s game, Dach had recorded 8 goals and 14 points in 32 games this season. While the production has been limited, he remains an important option for Montreal in the middle of its forward lineup.
Meanwhile, the Canadiens currently hold a 36-20-10 record with 82 points, placing them third in the Atlantic Division. The race remains close, though, because the Detroit Red Wings are tied in points, and the Boston Bruins sit just 1 point behind.
Montreal’s offense has helped the team stay near the top of the standings. Captain Nick Suzuki leads the roster with 78 points, while Cole Caufield leads the team with 39 goals this season.
On the blue line, rookie Lane Hutson continues to play heavy minutes and leads the team in assists. Forward Ivan Demidov has also added scoring since late February and now has the NHL rookie scoring lead.
Montreal will rely on those contributors while Dach remains out of the lineup. The Canadiens hope the center can return within the announced window as they push toward the end of the regular season.
