Habs' Dvorak returns, Xhekaj to undergo shoulder surgery

Montreal Canadiens center Christian Dvorak will make a surprising return to the lineup Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers, the team announced.

Dvorak was expected to miss the remainder of the season after suffering a torn pec on Dec. 30.

He's recorded seven points in 25 games this season. The 28-year-old has one more year on his contract with a $4.45-million cap hit. Montreal has five games left in its season.

However, defenseman Arber Xhekaj will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery Wednesday.

The 23-year-old is expected to be ready for the start of the 2024-25 campaign.

Xhekaj finishes his sophomore season with 10 points, 81 penalty minutes, and 125 hits in 44 games. He averaged 15:56 of ice time per contest.

The Hamilton, Ontario, product is a pending restricted free agent but is under team control until 2028.