Canadiens’ Phillip Danault rejoins practice, Andrew Shaw skates

Phillip Danault would need to be stretchered off after taking a puck to the head on a Zdeno Chara slap shot.

MONTREAL — Montreal Canadiens forward Phillip Danault took the next step in his recovery from a concussion by joining his teammates for an optional morning skate ahead of Saturday’s game against the Nashville Predators.

Danault, who has seven goals and 16 assists for 23 points in 43 games this season, was injured after being struck in the head by a slap shot from defenceman Zdeno Chara in the second period of a 4-3 loss to the Boston Bruins on Jan. 13.

The 24-year-old has missed 11 games since suffering the injury and will not be in uniform on Saturday.

Before the Canadiens held their skate Saturday, forward Andrew Shaw skated for the first time since suffering a lower-body injury in the same game Danault was injured in.

The 26-year-old, who has 10 goals and nine assists for 19 points in 43 games, is not expected to return to action for at least two more weeks.

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