Canadiens’ Josh Anderson, Mike Matheson to miss time with lower-body injuries

Some toughs coming out of La Belle Province.

On Sunday, the Montreal Canadiens announced that forward Josh Anderson and defenseman Mike Matheson are both expected to miss at least a couple of weeks due to lower-body injuries.

Anderson has been placed on injured reserve, meaning he only needs to sit out a week’s worth of action. However, the Canadiens stated that the 32-year-old is set to miss 3-4 weeks due to the ailment.

It isn’t quite clear what has knocked Anderson out of action. He was in the lineup on Saturday night, when the Canadiens fell to the Colorado Avalanche, 4-1. He logged just 10:46 of ice time, the least amount of time from any Montreal skater. He was in action throughout the entire game, registering a plus/minus of -2, while putting a shot on goal and delivering three hits.

In 19 games so far this season, the Burlington, Ont. native has posted eight goals and four assists for 12 points, sitting tied for second on the team in goals and fifth in overall scoring.

Matheson returned to the lineup last Thursday night against the Boston Bruins, after missing the previous six games due to injury. It seemed like an average night for the 32-year-old, who picked up an assist in a 5-2 victory, registering 21:11 of ice time. However, whatever seems to be bugging him was enough to keep him out of the lineup on Saturday, with the Canadiens stating that Matheson will miss another 2-3 weeks with the injury.

Matheson has appeared in just nine games thus far, posting a goal and four assists for five points.

The Canadiens (12-4-4) sit in a three-way tie for first place in the Atlantic Division with the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators.