Glen Metropolit Out Six to Eight Weeks, Dealing Huge Blow to Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens are the healthiest they've been all season.

That could have been the headline going into Wednesday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Unfortunately for the Canadiens, the bad news keeps on coming.

The news came in Tuesday morning that journeyman forward Glen Metropolit will be sidelined for six to eight weeks with a shoulder injury he sustained in Saturday's game against the New Jersey Devils.

With the Habs holding a loose grip on one of the final playoff spots and the power play struggling, the news couldn't come at a worse time.

The 35-year-old Metropolit leads the Canadiens with 10 power-play goals this season and has 29 points in total. Also of note this season, Metropolit was on a pace that could have seen him surpass his career high of 33 points.

Not too bad for a player who was claimed off waivers last season when the Flyers decided they didn't have a place for him. He has been an important addition to the Canadiens roster, and his leadership and work ethic will be sorely missed if he is not available come playoff time...that is, if the Habs make it there.

If there is one encouraging sign, it's Metropolit's response to the diagnosis.

"I kinda wanted to call bull**** on six to eight weeks. It is what they said, but right then I wanted to get to work and prove everyone wrong, prove I'm not going to be out that long."

Hopefully for the Canadiens, he can prove them wrong and return as soon as possible. Until that time, the Canadiens are going to need players like Mathieu Darche, Tom Pyatt, and especially Maxim Lapierre to step up their games and show that they can contribute at this level.

The Canadiens host Carolina Wednesday and then have a crucial back-to-back against Philadelphia and Buffalo to close out the weekend. 

If the Habs are serious about making the playoffs, they are going to have to bring more to the table than they have shown in the last couple weeks, especially in the discipline department.