Under the NHL concussion protocol, Jake Evans will have to be absent for a minimum of seven days starting last Wednesday. This means that Dominique Ducharme will have to call on another player to replace the 71. According to the latest rumors, supporters will be able to appreciate the return to the game of the Finnish Artturi Lehkonen.
That's good, since the two players have similar styles. Two excellent skaters who work hard with a concern for defense. We would hardly be surprised if Dominique Ducharme employs Artturi Lehkonen on the first line with Phillip Danault to handcuff the forces of the Winnipeg Jets this evening.
It remains to be seen how Paul Maurice will deal with his alignment. He will be deprived of two of his best center players in Mark Scheifele and Paul Stastny. Let's say that the Habs are favorites for the rest of the series, since the best center of the Jets was suspended from four games for an assault on Jake Evans at the end of the third period.
It is not excluded that Dominique Ducharme also assesses the possibility of bringing Tomas Tatar at some point in this series to offer rest to damaged players, since it is to be expected that the Winnipeg Jets will put the pedal to the bottom on the front check and body checks. With robustness, sores will arise.
