UPDATE: Dominique Decharme will miss Game 3 for Canadiens due to positive COVID-19 test
The Daily Goal Horn
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Montreal Canadiens interim coach Dominique Ducharme is isolating at home due to “irregularities” in his daily testing for COVID-19, the team announced Friday.
The Canadiens also canceled a scheduled Friday morning video conference with Ducharme.
Update: Per multiple sources, Ducharme will miss tonight’s game.
Dominique Ducharme COVID issue
The team said further tests will be conducted ahead of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup semifinal series versus the visiting Vegas Golden Knights, scheduled for Friday night. The best-of-seven series is tied at one win apiece.
The Canadiens confirmed to the Montreal Gazette that Ducharme has received both of his COVID-19 vaccine shots.
Alex Burrows was promoted to assistant coach on Feb. 24, replacing Kirk Muller on the same day Ducharme took over for Claude Julien as coach, but he has never served as a head coach at the professional level. He did, however, run the team’s morning skate Friday. Luke Richardson, who coaches Montreal’s defence, was the head coach of the AHL’s Binghamton Senators from 2012-16 and would be the other option, with director of goaltending Sean Burke joining the bench.
Eric Engels, Sportsnet
Ducharme, 48, guided the Canadiens to a 15-16-7 record after taking over for the fired Claude Julien during the regular season. Montreal followed that up by winning nine of its 13 playoff games.
–Field Level Media