Montreal Canadiens forwards Brendan Gallagher and Paul Byron are scheduled to return to the lineup Sunday when the team hosts the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Gallagher has been out for nine games with a lower-body injury while Byron has yet to play this season after having hip surgery over the summer.
Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme said although neither will play Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers, he’s confident both will return Sunday.
Gallagher said it’s been a pretty frustrating couple of months as he also missed time in December due to COVID-19 protocols.
“It’s never easy being out of the lineup,” Gallagher said. “You like to pride yourself on being there for your teammates. I’m looking forward to getting the chance to go to battle with them again. It’s been a long time here and happy it’s all coming to an end. Hopefully, tomorrow I get back into the lineup and just get back to playing.”
The 29-year-old Gallagher has 10 points — four goals and six assists — in 26 games this season.
Ducharme added that forwards Joel Armia and Cole Caufield, who both entered COVID-19 protocols while the team was on a road trip in the U.S., were expected to return to Montreal on Friday but had their flight delayed and will now arrive Saturday.
Montreal (8-27-7) is last in the league with 23 points.
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