Before starting the Montreal Canadiens’ first-round series against the Washington Capitals, he told the press he was looking forward to “turning it up” a notch for the playoffs. After two games, fans and media alike were still waiting to see that new level when the team announced the left winger was dealing with an upper-body injury and wouldn’t be playing in game three.
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Many had speculated he might have had knee issues after he missed practice to receive treatment, but in one of the videos the team released after their game, you can see Laine gingerly clapping in the background as Josh Anderson speaks. It’s not because he doesn’t support what his teammate his saying, but rather because he has a splint on one of the fingers of his right hand.
While a finger issue is not as dire as a knee injury, it’s certainly not great for a hockey player, as it can prevent them from holding their stick as hard as they usually would. It can also make it tricky to shoot as usual, which could explain why the big Finn has struggled to get shots on target and unleash his most potent weapon: his one-timer on the power play.
In the circumstances and given Laine’s shortcomings when asked to play a 200-foot game, it made perfect sense for Martin St-Louis to scratch him for game three, and until that finger is fully healed, there’s no point in putting him back in the lineup.
Oliver Kapanen may not have as much raw talent as Laine has, but he plays a much more committed defensive game. If Laine is in no fit state to help you offensively, and clearly he wasn’t since St-Louis benched him for the whole third period of game two, it makes no sense to deprive yourself of a player who can be helpful at both ends of the ice.
On Sunday morning, Laine was not at the team's morning skate, so one can assume he won't play in game four.
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