Pacioretty leaves road trip after suffering lower-body injury

Montreal Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty has returned to Montreal for further evaluation after he sustained a lower-body injury against the New York Islanders on Friday.

The injury will keep Pacioretty out of the lineup for Saturday's contest against the Boston Bruins. It will mark the first game he has missed this season.

Pacioretty has recorded 17 goals and 20 assists in 64 games.

Also headed back to Montreal for evaluation is rookie defenseman Victor Mete, who injured his hand Friday.

Mete has tallied seven points in 49 games this year. He was also a key contributor in Canada's gold medal win at the world juniors.

No timetable has been announced on when either will return to the lineup.

The Canadiens sit third-last in the Eastern Conference with a 25-29-10 record in 64 games.