Montreal Canadiens get worst-case scenario involving Chris Kreider

The team announced Saturday that the veteran winger is dealing with a lower-body injury, just hours before the Colorado Avalanche visit the Bell Centre.

Kreider left Thursday's game in Boston during the third period and returned to Montreal without a clear update on his condition. The Canadiens still finished the job, beating the Bruins 5-2.

The timing is difficult. Montreal sits at 12-3-4, good for second place in the Atlantic Division, and has gone 8-0-2 over its last 10 games.

Few teams have played with more confidence lately, and now a regular in the lineup will be sidelined until late December at the earliest.

Kreider has nine points, including three goals, in 19 games this season. The numbers are modest, but the 35-year-old offers more than scoring.

His 6-foot-3 frame and 351 career goals in 977 NHL games make him a heavy presence around opposing creases, and that kind of net-front work is not easy to replace.

Head coach Martin St-Louis has already made his call, and it is a youthful one. Florian Xhekaj draws into the lineup against Colorado, giving the young forward a real chance to carve out a bigger role while Kreider heals. A strong showing could keep him in the mix well beyond one night.

Montreal could also explore adding another forward from outside the organization if depth becomes a concern over the coming weeks. Kreider and goaltender Jacob Fowler were both out of the lineup Saturday, with Jakub Dobes getting the start in net.

For now, the Canadiens have shown they can handle adversity, particularly away from home, where they own a 7-1-1 record. Six to eight weeks is a long stretch, but this group has earned the benefit of the doubt.

Fans will be watching closely to see how the lineup holds up without one of its most experienced forwards, especially as the schedule gets busier.

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