Canadiens keep Patrik Laine out again ahead of emotional matchup with Columbus
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Cimon Asselin
Mar 26, 2026 (10:08)
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Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Patrik Laine remains out as Martin St-Louis refuses to dress him Thursday against Columbus at the Bell Centre.
That confirmation hit hard. This was the one game fans circled, and Laine won't face the Blue Jackets.
He's still officially on injured reserve, even after practicing with the group since January 16.
And at this point, it's not about conditioning anymore. He's been in full practices for over two months.
St-Louis is sending a message with his lineup card. He's sticking with his current forward group and not making room.
That means Laine, a 6-foot-4 winger with elite release, is watching again from the stands.
Canadiens rolling without Laine
Montreal enters the night with a 39-21-10 record and 88 points, holding a firm playoff position in the Atlantic Division.
They've scored 249 goals this season, showing enough offensive depth without needing to force Laine back in.
Meanwhile, Columbus comes in with 87 points, right behind in the Metropolitan race, making this game anything but meaningless.
That context matters. St-Louis is clearly prioritizing chemistry over reintegration.
Laine's production doesn't give him leverage right now. In 5 games, he has 1 assist and no goals.
He's also carrying a -3 rating, which stands out given his limited usage earlier this season.
Last year tells a different story. He put up 33 points in 52 games with Montreal and played a regular top-six role.
But right now, those numbers feel distant. The current lineup is delivering, and the coach isn't blinking.
There's also the contract layer hanging over everything. Kent Hughes kept him past the March 6 trade deadline.
So now you've got a high-salary winger, healthy enough to practice, but not trusted enough to play.
Inside a playoff push, that becomes a real distraction. Teammates notice. The room feels it.
And every game he sits adds more weight to the situation.
If nothing changes soon, this won't just be a lineup decision anymore.
It'll start looking like the final stretch of Patrik Laine's time in Montreal.
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