Montreal Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson will draw back into the lineup Thursday night against the Boston Bruins.
Blueliner Adam Engstrom will come out of the lineup for Matheson, the team announced.
The 32-year-old has been out since Oct. 27 with a lower-body injury. He has one goal and four points in eight games this season while averaging 23:45 of ice time.
He also missed four games last month also due to a lower-body injury, returning for three games before he was sidelined again.
Matheson is in the first season of a five-year, $30 million contract with an AAV of $6 million that he signed in November of 2025.
A first-round pick (23rd overall) by Florida in 2012, the Pointe-Claire, Que., native has skated in 713 career NHL games, scoring 82 goals with 306 points, split between the Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Canadiens.
Engstrom, 22, has one goal and one assist in 12 games this season while averaging 11:26 of ice time.
The Bruins enter Thursday’s game sitting atop the Atlantic Division with 27 points in 18 games, while the Canadiens are just behind, tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning with 26 points in 18 games.