Carrier Discusses Series-Changing Wilson Hit

Now that the season has come to an end, the laundry-list of injuries has emerged from the Montreal Canadiens locker room.

The team ended up being bounced by the Washington Capitals in their first appearance in the playoffs since they began their rebuild in earnest, however, they also had to push their players to the limit simply to qualify for springtime hockey in the first place.

That left them in a rather fragile situation heading into the playoffs, and consequently, several players will need a heavy dose of rest and therapy throughout the summer to ensure they’re ready to play come training camp.

For example, Alexandre Carrier injured his foot when Alex Ovechkin threw his first hit of the series. It surely didn’t help that Tom Wilson also trucked him a few games later, but the good news is that the issue seems to be mechanical, a more encouraging diagnosis than a potential concussion.

Fans were understandably upset when Wilson lined up Carrier, but the defender doesn’t hold any animosity toward his opponent.

“It wasn’t dirty,” said Carrier. “I would have done the same thing, I would have finished that hit. It’s my job to know who is on the ice and protect myself better.”

I tend to agree with Carrier, it was not a dirty hit, but it was a good reminder that physical play can turn a series around, as it did in Game 4.

More Injured Montreal Canadiens

And then there’s Josh Anderson, who finished the regular season with a broken everything. Full marks must be given to the Canadiens medical staff, as Anderson’s presence on the ice evoked memories of the Black Knight from Monty Python sketches.

Tis but a scratch!

Anderson ended up leading the physical charge versus the Capitals, a testament to his impressive perseverance, not to mention his commitment to reinventing his game, a rather difficult proposal for any NHL veteran.

The power forward took inspiration from fellow veteran Brendan Gallagher, both when it comes to his effort level, and the concept of playing with injuries.

Unsurprisingly, Gallagher also dealt with several injuries throughout the year, though that’s par for the course when discussing the veteran’s approach to the game.

He’ll need some rest, as will Patrik Laine.

The sniper missed the last few games of the playoffs due to a nagging knee injury and a fractured finger, however, the Finnish forward will not require surgery in the offseason, which means he should be healthy in time to participate in his first full training camp with the team.