Kovalev Tired

Reports in Montreal is that Alexei Kovalev has been sent home while the team finishes off the remainder of their current road trip, which includes stops in Washington on Wednesday and Pittsburgh on Thursday. The team did not provide any idea on whether or not he'll be re-inserted into the Habs' line-up on Saturday, as they play host to Ottawa on Hockey Day in Canada. The team is unhappy with his play of late and it is believed that he is severely fatigued and needs some excess rest. So, this is the move that they have decided on for the time being.

Kovalev has been rather quiet on the production front, yet was able to provide some points for Clayton in the Draft last week. In 57 games, Kovalev has only been able to register 13 goals and 26 assists this season, a scoring rate of .68 points per game. These numbers are down from the season previous and the Canadiens are in dire need of his performance he put on last season to ensure that they make it into the playoffs.

Also today, the Canadiens sent down Box 24 forward, Sergei Kostitsyn, to the minors as his effort and play of late have not been up to par. Questions are beginning to be raised as to whether or not Kostitsyn will return to the team before the end of the year. In his place, Gregory Stewart has been called up from Hamilton.

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