Kotkaniemi will miss his sixth consecutive game with a groin injury and the Habs maintain that he is day-to-day. Montreal doesn't play again until Friday/Saturday, so monitor Kotkaniemi's status as they week progresses towards their back-to-back.
Kotkaniemi practiced on Wednesday and took part in Thursday's morning skate but remains sidelined for Thursday's game in Philadelphia. The Haas are hopeful that Kotkaniemi will be able to return to the lineup on Saturday.
Kotkaniemi missed three games with a groin injury but he will accompany the team to Philadelphia, which makes it possible for him to make his return to the lineup. The second-year centre has had a slow start to the year, scoring two goals with one assist in 12 games before getting hurt.
Kotkaniemi has had an excellent rookie season but serve as a healthy scratch for the first time in his career. Kotkaniemi has just one goal and four assists (five points) in his last 11 games.
Kotkaniemi climbed up draft boards throughout the season, racking up 10 goals and 19 assists (29 points) in 57 games as a 17-year-old in Finland’s top league. Kotkaniemi is the top centre in the draft and has drawn comparisons to Aleksander Barkov.
