The Finn, who injured his knee, did not play in the match after the first minutes of the opening set.
Kamilla Rajander,
STT Sports
Montreal Canadiens Patrick Laine was injured when the team faced the Toronto Maple Leafs in an NHL training game the night before Sunday Finnish time. The Finnish striker had to leave the match in the first minutes of the first period.
Laine skated with the puck into the offensive zone where he ran into Toronto Cédric Paréen. The two’s knees collided, and Laine’s leg twisted. Laine fell and was left lying on the ice holding her knee.
Teammates helped him off the ice, and after the first period, the club announcedthat Laine will no longer play in the match.
Paré was not condemned for the situation. Instead, a little later in Montreal Arber Xhekaj attacked Paré. Xhekaj received a match penalty for his act.
Toronto won the match 2–1.
Difficult last season
Laine moved from the Columbus Blue Jackets to Montreal in a player trade in the summer. He made his debut for the Canadian team earlier this week in a practice game against the Philadelphia Flyers and laughed at reporters after the game.
Before that, Laine had last played in mid-December. Last season was difficult for him.
Suffering from injuries, Laine interrupted his season in January and applied for the treatment program of the NHL and the players’ association, which offers support in mental health issues, among other things.