Montreal Canadiens winger Patrik Laine will miss Game 3 of the first-round playoff series against the Washington Capitals due to an upper-body injury.

Laine has struggled this season, tallying 20 goals and 13 assists in 52 games, and has not scored in his last seven outings.

His absence follows a benching by head coach Martin St. Louis during the third period of Game 2, where the Canadiens lost 3-1.

Laine's injury was announced shortly before the game, and he will be evaluated daily, though it is not expected to be long-term.

In Laine's absence, rookie Oliver Kapanen is set to make his postseason debut, having played primarily in Sweden this season.

Defenseman Arber Xhekaj will also return to the lineup for Game 3, replacing Jayden Struble, and is expected to provide a physical presence.

Key forwards Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky will need to elevate their performance as the Canadiens face a must-win scenario.

The Canadiens are generally healthy aside from Laine, with Kirby Dach having missed a significant portion of the season.

Tonight's game marks Montreal's first playoff match at home before a full-capacity crowd since 2017, creating an emotional atmosphere.

The Capitals currently lead the best-of-seven series 2-0, putting additional pressure on the Canadiens to perform.

The game is scheduled to be broadcast on Sportsnet and TVA Sports, as fans hope for a turnaround in the series.

In Game 2, the Canadiens lost 3-1, but notable performances from Cole Caufield and Alex Newhook, each contributing two points, provided some optimism.