The Montreal Canadiens were without three key players at practice on Tuesday, April 28, as the team prepares for a pivotal Game 5 in their playoff series. Forwards Josh Anderson and Juraj Slafkovsky, as well as defenseman Mike Matheson, were absent from the morning skate at the Bell Sports Complex.
Noah Dobson returns to practice
In positive news, defenseman Noah Dobson skated with the team for the first time in weeks. Dobson had been sidelined with an upper-body injury sustained in late March. His return to practice suggests he could be available for Game 5, though head coach Martin St-Louis did not confirm his status.
Impact of absences
Anderson has been a physical presence in the series, while Slafkovsky has contributed offensively. Matheson has logged heavy minutes on the blue line. Their absence from practice raises questions about their availability for Game 5, scheduled for Wednesday night at the Bell Centre.
The Canadiens currently trail the series 3-1 and face elimination. A win would force a Game 6 on the road. The team did not provide specific reasons for the missed practice, listing them as maintenance days.
