{
  "id": 15178333,
  "title": "Habs Daily: Injury Updates, Defensive Improvements, Fowler Or Dobes",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/habs-daily-injury-updates-defensive-improvements-fowler-or-dobes",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-17T11:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/habs-daily-injury-updates-defensive-110000227.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Montreal Canadiens News: The defense of the Montreal Canadiens has shown promising signs as they adjust their pairing with Martin St-Louis on the top pair and Adam Engstrom on the third. While the results are still early, this shift has led to more encouraging defensive performances. Following practice on Friday, the team reported several health updates. Juraj Slafkovsky, who suffered heavy contact in their recent loss to the Washington Capitals, opted to take a \"therapy day\" and is expected to return on Saturday for the game against the Buffalo Sabres. Florian Xhekaj is expected to miss 14 days due to a lower-body injury. There were no updates on Mike Matheson and Oliver Kapanen, though Kapanen did participate in team-wide drills. Cole Caufield's goal-scoring skills continue to impress, and the team is still considering whether to start Jacob Fowler or Jakub Dobes in their next match against the Sabres.",
  "summary": "Here are the Montreal Canadiens and NHL news items you may have missed on Friday. Montreal Canadiens News Hopefully Juraj […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Martin St-Louis and Adam Engstrom improved defensive pairing",
    "Juraj Slafkovsky to return Saturday after therapy day",
    "Jacob Fowler or Jakub Dobes consideration for next game"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}