Montreal Canadiens fans can breathe a collective sigh of relief as the team announced that forward Jake Evans will be sidelined for four to six weeks with a lower-body injury. While any injury is a setback, the news is better than initially feared after Evans went down in the first period of the Canadiens' 4-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 20th.

Evans suffered the injury in a knee-on-knee collision with Penguins forward Justin Brazeau, immediately leaving the ice for evaluation. The collision sparked concern that the injury could be severe, potentially requiring surgery and a lengthy absence. However, the team's announcement on Saturday indicated that Evans would avoid surgery, setting a timeline for his return within the next month and a half.

The four-to-six week timeline includes the week that Evans has already missed since the injury occurred. This means he could be back in the lineup sometime in late January or early February.

The loss of Evans is a blow to the Canadiens' forward depth. The 29-year-old has played in 34 games this season, recording five goals and five assists. While his offensive numbers aren't eye-popping, Evans plays a valuable role as a reliable two-way center, often tasked with checking assignments in the defensive zone. Following Christian Dvorak's departure, Evans was expected to take on an even larger role in this capacity.

"He was injured in the opening period after colliding knee-on-knee with Penguins forward Justin Brazeau. He left the Canadiens' bench immediately and did not return".

The Canadiens have been dealing with a number of injuries to key players this season. His absence will test the team's depth and force other players to step up. Recently acquired veteran Phillip Danault was brought in to bolster the team's center depth and help in the defensive zone. The Canadiens faithful will be hoping Danault can fill the void left by Evans' injury.

In related news, the Canadiens announced that goaltender Samuel Montembeault has been recalled from his conditioning stint with the AHL's Laval Rocket.

While the Canadiens will miss Evans' contributions on the ice, the news that he will avoid a long-term absence is a positive development. The team will look to weather the storm over the next few weeks and welcome Evans back into the lineup when he is ready to return.