Montreal Canadiens forward Patrik Laine left Saturday’s pre-season game against the Toronto Maple Leafs after a knee-on-knee collision.

The event occurred just minutes into the first period. Laine attempted to break into the offensive zone before making knee-on-knee contact with Toronto’s Cedric Pare. No penalty was called on the play, and Laine remained down, requiring assistance to get off the ice.

Cameras caught the forward in a moment of frustration as he made his way down to the Canadiens dressing room, throwing his glove and helmet. The Canadiens later reported on social media that Laine would not return to action on Saturday night.

Laine is just starting his first season as a Canadien after being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets in August. Saturday’s preseason game marked the second time he’s slipped on the Canadiens sweater.

Last season, Laine spent most of his time treating a shoulder injury, among other ailments and was in the NHLA/NHLPA player assistance program. As a result, the forward was limited to 18 regular season games, scoring six goals and three assists.

Unfortunately, Laine wasn’t the only Canadiens player who had to leave the game due to injury as defenceman David Reinbacher was injured just four seconds into the game. Maple Leafs Marshall Rifai checked Reinbacher into the boards in front of the Canadiens bench, which resulted in Reinbacher falling awkwardly to his knee and appearing to favour his left knee. Similar to Laine, after hobbling off the ice, medical staff assisted him to the dressing room and did not return to play.

There has yet to be an update from the organization regarding either Laine or Reinbacher.

Laine was initially the second overall selection in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets and has notched 204 goals and 388 points with 480 games under his belt. Meanwhile, Reinbacher was the Canadien’s fifth overall selection in the 2023 draft but spent last season with EHC Kloten on a loan, where he scored one goal and 11 points throughout 35 games and an additional 11 games and five points with the Canadien’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Laval Rocket.

On Sunday, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety disclosed that Montreal Canadiens defenceman Arber Xhekaj has been fined the maximum allowed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Xhekaj will have to pay $3,385.42 following an incident that occurred during Saturday night’s pre-season game against the Toronto Maple Leafs when the defenceman unloaded several blows onto Toronto’s Cedric Pare.

The event unraveled midway through the first period after Pare made knee-on-knee contact with Laine.

Following the hit and Laine’s unexpected absence for the remainder of the game, Xhekaj went after the Toronto forward, catching the back of his jersey and throwing a handful of punches at Pare. However, his efforts to defend his teammate caused him and the Canadiens a five-minute major for fighting, two minutes for instigating, and a 10-minute misconduct with an additional game misconduct for a total of 27 penalty minutes. Not only was the defenceman ejected from the game, but the Canadiens were challenged to hold off the Maple Leafs in a rare seven-minute power play.

Xhejak was an undrafted defenceman picked up by the Canadiens in October 2021 as a free agent. He officially joined the Canadiens in 2022-23, scoring five goals and 13 points throughout 51 games. Last season, he spent 44 games with the Canadiens, notching five goals and 10 points, with an additional 17 games and 11 points with the Canadien’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Laval Rocket.

The 23-year-old just signed a new two-year deal with the Canadiens in July, which will see him earn an average annual value of $1.3 million.