Montreal Canadiens’ Jake Evans leaves game with a lower-body injury

Montreal Canadiens forward Jake Evans exited Saturday night’s game against the New York Islanders late in the first period. The Canadiens announced during the second period that Evans would not be returning to the game. 

The incident occurred in the remaining seconds of the first period when Brock Nelson and Evans got tangled up at the faceoff circle. Nelson fell and landed on what appeared to be Evans’ knee while his leg was stretched out. Evans was clearly in pain and the Canadiens’ medical team was quick to help him off the ice. 

Evans, 26, has registered 11 points (2G, 9A) in 42 games this season. In his last five games, Evans has been one of the biggest point-producers for the Canadiens notching one goal and three assists. He even recorded a multi-assist game in a 5-4 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Jan. 7.  Last season he put up career highs in goals and points; recording 13 goals and 29 points in 72 games.  

Evans was drafted in the seventh round of the 2014 NHL Draft by the Canadiens. He spent four years at the University of Notre Dame and he captained the team to an NCAA B1G 10 Championship in 2017-18. That same year, after putting up 46 points (13G, 33A) in 40 games, Evans joined Team Canada at the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland and won another championship. 

The Canadiens are currently 17-22-3 and sit last in the Atlantic Division with 37 points.