Roman Hamrlik’s left knee injury stretched the limits of the term “day-to-day”. It has been ‘day-to-day’ since September 17th when he arrived in training camp having suffered it in an unofficial practice session collision with Jaroslav Spacek.
Fortunately, the Canadiens coaching and medical staff is more patient than the average fan or even the media, which is always a good thing.
At last, Hamrlik has been declared fit to play and will be in the lineup tomorrow night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Rumours are also being spread that Andrei Markov is very close to returning as well, which would make him a month ahead of schedule.
Hamrlik’s knee is now 36 years old and has been through well over 1200 grinding NHL games. You don’t heal as quickly at thirty-six as you did when you were twenty-six.
Hamrlik, who has not skated competitively since last May will be paired with Ryan O’Byrne tomorrow night. Spacek will remain with P.K. Subban. It leaves two defense setups with desirable left/right shots.
After doing a lot of early line-juggling Thursday in Toronto, Jacques Martin kept his lines together for the most part on Saturday against Pittsburgh mainly because of Benoit Pouliot’s improvement. Pouliot will be back on the Gomez line tomorrow night.
Expect Carey Price in goal again.
The Lines
LW C RW
57- Benoit Pouliot 11 ScottGomez 21 Brian Gionta
13-Michael Cammalleri 14 TomasPlekanec 46-Andrei Kostitsyn
81-Lars Eller 15-Jeff Halpern 40-Maxim Lapierre
32- Travis Moen 17-Dustin Boyd 94-Tom Pyatt
81-Lars Eller 15-Jeff Halpern 40-Maxim Lapierre
Defence Left Right
6-Jaroslav Spacek 76- P.K. Subban
75-Hal Gill 26-Josh Gorges
44-Roman Hamrlik 20-Ryan O’Byrne
Goal 31-Carey Price
35-Alex Auld
Scratches – Mathieu Darche; Alexandre Picard
