Koivu Is Progressing Well

Saku Koivu’s eye injury is improving, and the Montreal Canadiens are optimistic that their captain will recover in time for training camp next season.

Team doctor David Mulder said Koivu’s left eye, which was struck with a stick during the NHL playoffs, is healing, and he has been cleared to fly home to Finland.

“Pending continued improvement as judged by his ophthalmologist in Finland, it is our hope that Saku will be fit to report to training camp in September and resume playing professional hockey,” Mulder said Monday in a statement.

Koivu sustained a torn retina when he was hit in the eye by an errant high stick from Carolina’s Justin Williams in Game 3 of the Canadiens’ first-round playoff series against the Hurricanes. Koivu underwent surgery on May 6.

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The Buffalo Sabres trail, 3-2, in the Eastern Conference finals against Carolina, but Buffalo Coach Lindy Ruff did his best to gain a psychological edge.

“The pressure falls on them,” Ruff said of the Hurricanes. “Oh, you’d hate to lose Game 6 and have to play Game 7. You’d never want to get in that situation because in one game, anything can happen.”

Carolina can advance to the Stanley Cup finals with a Game 6 victory tonight at Buffalo.