Canadiens relieved Higgins' shoulder not as badly injured as feared

Carbonneau says Higgins will accompany the team for games Thursday in Nashville and Saturday at the New York Islanders and may be able to play both. Higgins appeared to injure a shoulder early in the third period of a 5-3 win Tuesday night over the Washington Capitals. The team would only say he injured his upper body.

The first-line winger scored two goals to break a 16-game scoring drought.

Defenceman Craig Rivet will also be on the trip but is not likely to play because he is still weak from a bout of pneumonia.

Winger Alex Kovalev (sore elbow), centre Steve Begin (broken foot) and goalie Cristobal Huet (torn hamstring) are out of the lineup.