The club was left holding its breath when the winger went down in a heap in the third period against Montreal.

Gauthier, 27, slotted in for Oliver Wahlstrom on the team's fourth line against Montreal. He clocked 7:42 of ice time without recording a shot. The appearane was his first on the final year of a two-year contract, carrying an average cap hit of $787,500.

Duclair, who signed a four-year, $14 million deal this offseason, has dealt with injuries in the past, playing just 20 games in 2022-23 with the Panthers after hurting his left Achilles in the offseason and undergoing surgery.