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Ex-Habs enforcer Georges Laraque criticizes Cedric Pare's "cheap shot" on Patrik Laine
Ex-Habs enforcer Georges Laraque criticized Toronto forward Cedric Pare after his collision with Patrik Laine forced Laine to leave with an apparent leg injury. The incident happened on Saturday during a preseason game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Bell Centre.
Laine suffered a knee-on-knee collision with Pare 3:49 into the first period. Following the incident, the Canadiens confirmed that Laine won't return to the game.
Patrik Laine, 26, was traded to the Montreal Canadiens from the Columbus Blue Jackets last month. The Canadiens expected him to be a key part of their lineup for the upcoming season.
Laraque, known for his tough playing style, shared his frustration on social media. On X (formerly Twitter), Laraque called Pare’s hit a "cheap shot" and said that he broke an unwritten NHL rule.
"Paré needs to learn the code in the NHL, you give a cheap shot like that, you face the music, that was a coward move!," Laraque wrote.
Laraque also speculated that Pare’s hit might have been payback for a previous incident involving Canadiens forward Michael Pezzetta and Toronto's John Tavares.
"Laine getting hurt, possibly out for the season, it looks bad, will be a buzz killer for Montreal. That was a cheap shot! Retaliation for the Tavares hit by Pezzeta? I’m not sure, but it will make the first game of the season against Toronto interesting … Xhekaj did what he had to do!" Laraque added.
Laine’s injury could affect Montreal’s season, as the team is counting on him to help improve their results. Montreal has finished last in the Atlantic Division for three straight seasons.
Martin St. Louis concerned over Patrik Laine's injury after preseason game
After the game, Montreal coach Martin St. Louis shared his concerns about Patrik Laine's injury, noting that there was no immediate update on his condition.
"If you know you can get him back to his own standards, it’s pretty exciting. And I feel we’ve done a good job of bringing him in and he’s started to feel more comfortable, so it’s hard to see him go down like that today. And hopefully it’s not too serious," St. Louis said (via NHL.com)
Apart from Patrik Laine’s injury, Canadiens defenseman prospect David Reinbacher also left the game early. Reinbacher was injured after a hit from Toronto’s Marshall Rifai.
The 19-year-old, who was picked No. 5 in the 2023 NHL Draft, had to leave the ice after one shift. For Montreal, the loss of Laine and Reinbacher could cause challenges as the team gets ready for the regular season.
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