Max Pacioretty leaves game after taking a puck to the face

Just another blow to Montreal.

You probably thought the plight of the Montreal Canadiens couldn't get any worse.

You were wrong!

The Canadiens entered the third period on Tuesday losing to the worst team in the NHL in the Columbus Blue Jackets and also were missing their captain after an injury. Max Pacioretty left the game in the second period when teammate P.K. Subban unleashed a rocket from the point that deflected right into Pacioretty's face and neck area.

Pacioretty fell to the ice, and left for the locker room after a few moments. He didn't immediately return, and the Canadiens later announced the captain would be out the rest of the night with what we can assume is an upper-body injury.

The injury is just the latest setback in a nightmarish start to the calendar year for the Canadiens. After getting off to the best start in the league, Montreal has slipped all the way out of playoff contention since mid-December.