Canadien centers Kirby Dach and Jake Evans on mend

Canadiens centers Kirby Dach and Jake Evans both skated before practice on Saturday as they try to work their way onto the ice after lengthy rehab process.  

Dach has missed nearly a month with a lower-body injury, stalling his momentum during what had been a solid first year with Montreal.  The 22-year-old center posted a career-high 35 points in 53 games prior to going down injured.  While he is clearly on the mend, Dach remains listed as "out indefinitely."  

Evans has missed almost two months with a lower-body injury of his own, one that could cost him at least two more weeks of NHL action.  Evans, 26, struggled prior to the injury, notching just 11 points in 43 games after putting up 29 in 73 contests during the 2021-22 season.

In other notes from around the Eastern Conference:

• Devils forward Curtis Lazar has been cleared to join the team. The veteran was acquired from Vancouver at the trade deadline before work visa and immigration issues held up the process. Those issues have been resolved. While Lazar joined up with New Jersey in Montreal, he isn’t expected to be inserted into the lineup just yet.  The 28-year-old has notched five points and 124 hits in 45 games so far this season.
  
  
• The Maple Leafs have returned winger Alex Steeves to AHL Toronto. Steeves had been on an emergency recall,but with John Tavares expected to play on Saturday, Toronto had to send one of the two players they brought up.  Steeves posted 17 goals and 28 assists in 54 games in the minors, good for second on Toronto in scoring.
  
  
• Rangers winger Tyler Motte was listed as a game-time decision for Saturday’s game against Buffalo but is expected to play. The 28-year-old suffered an upper-body injury earlier this month while playing against his former team in Ottawa and has 10 points in 44 games this season. Motte’s return means that New York will have to send Jonny Brodzinski to AHL Hartford. The cap exemption permitting his recall will expire, as the Rangers will once again have 12 healthy forwards.