The Montreal Canadiens recalled defenceman Logan Mailloux from the American Hockey League as the NHL team deals with a number of injuries.
Top-pairing blueliners Kaiden Guhle and Mike Matheson missed Friday’s practice with upper-body injuries, while forward Juraj Slafkovsky left the session early while favouring his left shoulder.
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis said Guhle is being evaluated daily and will not travel with the team when it faces the New York Islanders on Saturday.
St. Louis said Matheson missed practice for a “maintenance day” and will travel to New York. Slafkovsky will also travel with the team, though St. Louis wasn’t sure if he would suit up against the Islanders.
Mailloux has two goals and two assists in two games with the Laval Rocket this season and is in line to make his second NHL appearance.
The 31st-overall pick at the 2021 draft had an assist in one game with the Canadiens last season.
Guhle’s right shoulder slammed into the boards when he was hit by the Kings’ Adrian Kempe at the start of the second period of the Canadiens’ 4-1 loss to Los Angeles on Thursday. He finished the game.
The 16th pick in the 2020 draft has a goal and three assists in five games this season.
Matheson did not return to the ice after the first period because of an upper-body injury. He has three assists this campaign.
Slafkovsky, the first-overall pick in 2022, has a goal and three assists and is the left-winger on the Habs’ top line alongside Cole Caufield and captain Nick Suzuki.