A healthy Brendan Gallagher will be watching from the press box on Saturday.
The Montreal Canadiens will healthy-scratch the forward for the first time in his career against the San Jose Sharks, head coach Martin St. Louis confirmed.
Live coverage of the game will be available on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT.
Gallagher will return to the lineup Sunday against the Anaheim Ducks, St. Louis added.
"I’m pretty sure he took it better than me," St. Louis said. "It’s not easy, considering all he’s represented to the Canadiens over the years. But it’s where we’re at in the schedule, with our depth. We’ll move forward, continue to evaluate, and Gally is a pro."
Teammate Jake Evans said he expects Gallagher to come back with force.
"You’re going to see a lot from him, because he’s the most competitive guy I know. When challenges hit him, he doesn’t just give in; he goes right for ’em. So you’re going to see him at his best," Evans said.
Winger Cole Caufield, who missed Wednesday's 3-2 win in Ottawa with an illness, is returning to the lineup, bumping Gallagher out.
Alexandre Texier drew in for Caufield after five games as a healthy scratch and scored a goal Wednesday. He'll line up in Gallagher's usual slot next to Phillip Danault and Josh Anderson on the fourth line.
Gallagher, 33, has appeared in all 64 Canadiens games this season, putting up six goals and 14 assists with a minus-one mark.
The 2010 fifth-round pick has spent his entire career with the Habs since debuting in January 2013, playing 898 games with 245 goals and 239 assists.
Montreal sits third in the Atlantic Division with 82 points entering action on Saturday.
--with files from The Canadian Press
