62 Artturi Lehkonen LW

Lehkonen has 13 goals and 14 assists with a 9.3 shooting percentage over 70 games in 2019-20.

Lehkonen once again had trouble scoring consistently, but there was modest improvement relative to the previous two years. He had goal droughts of 16, 11 and eight games, but his shooting percentage was a three-year best. The Canadiens' hope that Lehkonen would eventually develop a scorer's touch hasn't materialized, so they are content with him being a third-line forward who plays the entire rink and is a staple on the penalty-kill unit. Lehkonen has one year remaining on a deal before becoming a restricted free agent following the 2020-21 season.

Lehkonen scored a goal on four shots and had one hit in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to Nashville.

The Canadiens, who have scored three goals in the last three games, were nearly shut out before Lehkonen scored his 13th goal in third period. It ended a 16-game streak without a goal and was just his second in the last 21. As Montreal deals with injuries and is desperate for scoring, Lehkonen has not been able to provide the needed offense. On the plus side, his 9.3 shooting percentage this season reverses a two-year downward trend in that category, but the Finn's scoring at a mere 5.8 percent clip in 26 games since Jan. 9.

Lehkonen skated on the top line to start Saturday's game before being dropped to the third line in a 4-1 loss to Florida. He had one shot and was minus-1 over 16:50 of ice time.

The Canadiens played without their leading scorer, Tomas Tatar (upper body), for a second straight game so an already offensively challenged team is less potent these days. Lehkonen got the first call to replace Tatar on the top line Saturday, but head coach Claude Julien eventually switched him out for Paul Byron and dropped Lehkonen to the third line. Lehkonen has just four points (two goals, two assists) and a 4.3 shooting percentage over the last 24 games.

Lehkonen skated on the second line and had two shots over 13:24 of ice time in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Rangers.

Jonathan Drouin's ankle injury forced a lineup adjustment that resulted in Lehkonen moving from the fourth line to the second. Despite the top-six start, Lehkonen's ice time was the lowest among the top-nine forwards. His offense isn't good enough to maintain such a prominent line placement, but the Canadiens have limited options at the moment. The Finn has one point in the last 12 games and three over the last 20.

Lehkonen returned to the lineup Saturday and had three shots along with two blocked shots in a 3-0 win over Ottawa.

Lehkonen was a one-game healthy scratch before returning to the active lineup. Montreal head coach Claude Julien's reasoning behind the scratch largely focused on Lehkonen's lack of offense. Julien felt guys like Nick Cousins and Jordan Weal offer more offensive upside, but the coach returned to Lehkonen against the Senators. The Canadiens signaled an organizational focus on next season with Sunday's trade of Ilya Kovalchuk to Washington, which suggests Lehkonen will be part of the active lineup going forward. However, the issue of his offense lingers. The Finn has no goals and one point in the last nine games and just two goals in the last 19.

Lehkonen will serve as a scratch for Thursday's game against the Capitals, Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reports.

Lehkonen participated in morning skate and pregame warmups, so there's nothing to suggest an injury issue is at play Thursday. Consider him a healthy scratch for the contest barring news to the contrary.

Lehkonen had an assist and one blocked shot over 17:32 of ice time in Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to Dallas.

After a one-game sojourn to the fourth line, Lehkonen was back on the third line and received four minutes more TOI as a result. Canadiens head coach Claude Julien was forced to juggle lines after Jonathan Drouin (ankle) and Nate Thompson (flu) were scratched, which prompted the promotion. The assist was the first point in eight games for Lehkonen, who has just one goal in the last 12 contests (5.3 shooting percentage).

Lehkonen had one shot and two blocked shots in Friday's 4-1 loss to Pittsburgh.

Lehkonen was dropped to the fourth line Friday and had nearly two fewer minutes of ice time than his season average. Montreal has had recent difficulty putting the puck in the net, prompting line tweaking by coach Claude Julien. Lehkonen has just two points (both goals) over the last 15 games.

Lehkonen scored a goal on five shots and had two hits in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Panthers.

Lehkonen redirected Jeff Petry's shot from the point through the wickets of Sergei Bobrovsky for his 12th goal of the season. It's rare when Lehkonen is the team's shot leader, but he must be feeling it after scoring on a marksman-like 18.5 percent of his shots over the last 12 games. He's scored five times during that stretch, giving Montreal needed scoring depth. The 24-year-old Finn is reversing a two-year slide in shooting percentage. After scoring on 7.3 and 6.3 percent the last two seasons, Lehkonen is finding the back of the net on 10.8 percent of his shots in 2019-20.

Lehkonen (illness) will play in Thursday's game against the Sabres, Jean-Francois Chaumont of Le Journal de Montreal reports.

Lehkonen was deemed a game-time call after missing practice earlier this week due to illness, but it appears the fourth-year winger will give it a go. He will aim to get on the board after opening the second half with a scoreless showing against the Capitals on Monday.

Lehkonen (illness) is traveling with the team but will be a game-time call versus Buffalo on Thursday, Arpon Basu of The Athletic reports.

Lehkonen picked up the flu bug along with Max Domi, which could be a concern for the Habs heading into Thursday's matchup, as they will also be without Jonathan Drouin (wrist). If the 24-year-old Lehkonen can't give it a go, Jordan Weal figures to jump back into the lineup, though Nick Poehling and Ryan Suzuki could see the biggest upticks in ice time.

Lehkonen isn't on the ice for Tuesday's practice due to an illness.

Montreal is off until Thursday against the Sabres, so Lehkonen may not be forced to miss any game action due to his illness. Another update on the Finnish winger's status should surface following Wednesday's practice.

Lehkonen scored on five shots in Thursday's 4-1 win over Philadelphia.

Lehkonen deposited his 11th goal a mere 11 seconds after Ilya Kovalchuk's power-play marker gave Montreal a 2-1 lead. He cruised toward the net, putting himself in position to redirect Phillip Danault's pass above the right shoulder of Flyers goalie Alex Lyon. After two disappointing seasons during which Lehkonen had a 6.8 shooting percentage, the 24-year-old Finn may have rediscovered the scoring touch he showed as a rookie. Lehkonen is scoring on 10.8 percent of his shots in 2019-20.

Lehkonen scored a short-handed goal on his only shot in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to Detroit. He added two hits and one blocked shot in 19:27 of ice time.

Lehkonen anticipated well and deflected a pass that turned into a short-handed, breakaway goal. It was his first shortie of the season and third of his career. Lehkonen's been a disappointment as a goal scorer since he flashed as a rookie, but he showed a goal-scorer's finish on Tuesday's goal and now has an 11.4 shooting percentage in 2019-20.

Lehkonen scored twice Saturday in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Penguins.

Two-goal outings are pretty rare for Lehkonen, who has just one other this season. He has just nine goals and 20 points in 42 games this season, but seven of the points have come in the last eight games. Opportunity has knocked for Lehkonen because of injuries to so many Montreal forwards. Take advantage, at least short term.

Lehkonen registered a goal and an assist with two shots and four hits in Monday's 6-2 victory over the Jets.

Lehkonen put the finishing touches on the win, potting his seventh goal of the year to round out the scoring midway through the third period. He also drew the primary assist on Max Domi's goal late in the second period. Lehkonen takes a modest three-game point streak into the Christmas break, collecting a goal and four assists in that stretch.

Lehkonen recorded an assist and two shots on goal in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Oilers.

Lehkonen set up Max Domi for the game-tying goal at 1:09 of the third period. The Finn has amassed four helpers in his last six games, but he's gone 11 straight contests without a goal. Lehkonen is at 16 points, 74 shots and 75 hits through 36 outings in 2019-20.

Lehkonen had two assists, one shot on net, five hits and finished plus-2 in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Flames.

Lehkonen's been in a scoring slump, having entered Thursday with just one point (an assist) in his nine previous games, but he was on the ice for both second-period goals that eroded Calgary's 2-0 lead. Despite the recent scoring slide, Lehkonen remains ahead of last season's scoring pace that produced a career-high 31 points. He now has six goals and nine assists with 72 shots over 35 games.

Lehkonen had an assist, two shots on goal, six hits and one blocked shot in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Penguins.

Lehkonen snapped a five-game run without a point when he had the primary assist on Montreal's third goal of the second period. He's was promoted to the second line following injuries to Paul Byron (knee) and Jonathan Drouin (wrist) and initially provided a scoring lift. The 24-year-old forward had five points in five games during the final days of November, but Lehkonen has never shown the ability to be a consistent source of secondary scoring.

Lehkonen scored a goal on three shots along with two hits and one blocked shot in Thursday's 6-4 loss to the Devils.

Lehkonen's third-period marker completed a team-wide hat trick for the Finns on the roster; Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Joel Armia scored earlier in the game. While the Canadiens are dealing with a six-game losing streak, Lehkonen is enjoying his most productive stretch of the season. He's potted four goals and has one assist in the last five games. The Habs are looking for their secondary scorers to step up in the wake of injuries to Jonathan Drouin (wrist) and Paul Byron (knee), and Lehkonen has responded. The 24-year-old forward has scored on four of his 15 shots (26.7 percent) during the five-game run and stands at 11.3 percent for the season.