As teams around the NHL returned to the ice following a 12-day break for the Winter Olympics, the Montreal Canadiens provided a pair of injury updates.
Centre Alex Newhook, who’d been skating individually for the past few weeks, rejoined team practice on Tuesday, while winger Patrik Laine remained absent as he recovers from a lower-body injury.
Newhook’s return to team practice marks just over three months since he was sidelined due to a fractured ankle and subsequent surgery — approaching the four-month recovery timeline initially announced by the team.
The 25-year-old last played on Nov. 13, when the injury occurred, and totalled six goals, six assists and a plus-seven mark through 17 appearances before he was sidelined.
As for Laine, the Canadiens continue to evaluate his status on a daily basis. The 27-year-old has only played in five games this season due to the lingering injury, logging one assist and a minus-three mark in that span. He last played on Nov. 16.
Laine was the only Habs player not currently in Milano Cortina for the Olympics who was absent from team practice on Thursday.
The Canadiens return to action on Feb. 26, when they host the New York Islanders.
