Brendan Gallagher breaks two fingers stopping shot, out indefinitely

Montreal Canadiens winger Brendan Gallagher left Sunday night's contest against the New York Islanders after stopping a slap shot with his hand. Per the team, he fractured two fingers on his left hand and is out indefinitely following surgery Monday.

The incident happened in the second period, when the Isles' Johnny Boychuk teed up a rocket that Gallagher had the misfortune of getting his hand in front of. Gallagher immediately reacted, tossing off his glove, and went straight from the ice to the Habs' dressing room. Montreal announced in the third period that he would not return to the game.

Warning: The injury is somewhat grisly (even Boychuk thinks so).

Rod French, a hand and wrist surgeon from British Columbia, estimated that Gallagher would miss six weeks. "That is a fairly standard timeline with hand fractures," he said.

Gallagher has appeared in 166 consecutive games, last missing a game in November 2013 (flu). P.K. Subban's 228-game streak is the only active one longer than Gallagher's on the Canadiens.

Veteran Alex Semin stepped into Gallagher's place in the lineup, a move that the Canadiens might have to rely on as they adjust to Gallagher's extended absence.

Contributing: Mike Brehm

PHOTOS: Major NHL injuries