Canadiens’ Mike Matheson exits early vs. Kings with upper-body injury

Montreal Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson exited Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings early after suffering an upper-body injury, the team announced.

It was not immediately clear how Matheson suffered the injury. His final shift came with just under two minutes left in the first period, and he did not return to the team’s bench for the second.

Matheson, 30, has picked up three assists in four games for the Canadiens this season and has been the team’s defenceman tabbed for duty on the first power-play unit.

He had a career-high 11 goals and 51 assists last season for 62 points in 82 games.