One of the Montreal Canadiens' top players will remain sidelined.
Sportsnet's Eric Engels reported that winger Patrik Laine skated on his own Wednesday morning, but isn't back to 100 per cent.
The 26-year-old has been battling "flu symptoms" for the past week, which caused him to miss the past three games. At this point, it's unclear if the Finnish star will be ready for Friday's clash with the Washington Capitals.
Laine has been an offensive spark for the Habs this season, producing eight goals and two assists in 13 games. He's also recorded 37 shots on net, 12 blocked shots and nine hits.
Picked second overall in the 2016 NHL Draft by the Winnipeg Jets at 18, Laine's stardom, which began when he was named the most valuable player at the 2016 IIHF World Championship, has been missed.
Forward Michael Pezzetta suited up in Laine's absence. The 26-year-old logged an average of 4:46 of ice time across the past three games, adding three shots on net and nine hits.
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