Is Brendan Gallagher playing tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning? Latest injury update on veteran forward ahead of the matchup (21st March 2023)

Brendan Gallagher is set to make his return to the Montreal Canadiens lineup when the team hosts the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Centre Bell arena on Tuesday, March 21. The game's puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET. The veteran forward will be back in the lineup for the first time since January 3rd.

"Brendan Gallagher confirms he will be in #Habs lineup tonight vs. Lightning. He has missed last 32 games with lower-body injury #HabsIO"- Stu Cowan

Gallagher has been out since December 2022 with a lower-body injury. The 30-year-old forward did return to the lineup on January 3rd, but was injured again during the Montreal Canadiens' game against the Nashville Predators.

Brendan Gallagher #11 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 27, 2022 in New York City The Canadiens defeated the Rangers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Gallagher was then placed on IR, and it was revealed that he will need at least 6-7 weeks to recover. The 30-year-old winger has already missed 32 games this season. He has played in 25 games for the Habs this season and has 9 points, including 4 goals and 5 assists.

The Montreal Canadiens (27-37-6) are currently in the midst of a rebuilding phase and are ranked 28th in the league standings. With 12 games remaining on the schedule, the 24-time Stanley Cup champions hope to win as many games as possible to help speed up the rebuilding process.

A look at the NHL career of Brendan Gallagher

Brendan Gallagher was the 147th overall pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and has since worn the jersey of the Habs.

Brendan Gallagher #11 of the Montreal Canadiens is congratulated by teammates after he scored a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the second period at SAP Center on October 28, 2021 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

He made his debut with the Canadiens in the 2012-13 season, and scored his first goal in a 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils on January 27, 2013.

Gallagher's career highlight came in 2021, when he assisted Artturi Lenkonen in overtime during Game Six of the Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights, sending the Montreal Canadiens to the finals for the first time in 28 years.

The Habs veteran forward is into his 10th year in the NHL. Over the course of that period, the 30-year-old has played in 663 games and has racked up 390 points with (198 goals and 192 assists).