Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach left Sunday night’s game against the Anaheim Ducks after absorbing a high hit from Anaheim winger Jeffrey Viel, the team announced. The incident occurred during the matchup in Montreal, and Dach was ruled out for the remainder of the contest with what the Canadiens described as an upper-body injury.
Dach was involved in a play in which Viel made contact high, leading to immediate concern from teammates and trainers. After the hit, Dach was attended to on the ice before being escorted off and did not return. The Canadiens later confirmed his status as out for the rest of the game, specifying only that he had sustained an upper-body injury.
The play drew attention on the ice as Montreal players reacted to the nature of the hit, with officials assessing the situation in real time. Details on any penalties assessed on the play, further disciplinary review, or additional medical updates were not immediately available. The extent of Dach’s injury, potential timetable for his recovery, and whether he will miss additional games had not been disclosed.
Dach’s departure forced the Canadiens to adjust their forward lines for the remainder of the game, redistributing ice time and responsibilities among the remaining centers and wingers. His absence removed a key option from Montreal’s attack and altered their depth down the middle as the game progressed.
As of Sunday night, the Canadiens had not provided further clarification beyond the initial announcement of an upper-body injury. The team is expected to monitor Dach’s condition and determine next steps following further evaluation. Any additional information, including diagnostic results or projected return, would likely come from subsequent team updates.
Jeffrey Viel, the Ducks winger involved in the collision, remained in the game as Anaheim continued its road contest in Montreal. How the league’s hockey operations department will view the hit, including whether it meets the threshold for supplemental discipline, was not yet known based on information available at the time.
Both teams continued play after a brief stoppage, but the loss of Dach for the night remained a key storyline as the Canadiens completed the game without one of their regular forwards.
