Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher and defenseman Sami Niku are out for at least the next 10 days after testing positive for COVID-19, Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme confirmed Thursday.
Ducharme said Gallagher and Niku are symptom-free, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels.
The Canadiens are enhancing their safety measures, eliminating outings and team gatherings away from the rink, Engels adds.
Here's a look at Montreal's lines without Gallagher and Niku:
#Habs vs #Avalanche:
— John Lu (@JohnLuTSNMtl) December 2, 2021
*Gallagher and Niku in COVID protocol.
Toffoli - Dvorak - Anderson
Lehkonen- Suzuki - Evans
Drouin - Poehling - Armia
Pezzetta - Perreault - Caufield
Chiarot - Savard
Kulak - Petry
Romanov - Wideman
Allen
Montembeault@TSN_Edge
Gallagher's posted 10 points in 23 games this season, while Niku's collected three assists in nine appearances since joining the Habs.
The NHL has experienced a spike in COVID-19 cases that's forced postponements for the Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders in recent weeks.
