Michael Cammalleri #13 of the Montreal Canadiens tries to chip the puck past Erik Karlsson #65 of the Ottawa Senators in a game at Scotiabank Place on January 30, 2010 in Ottawa, Canada. (Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images)Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images
Michael Cammalleri will be out for about six weeks with a knee injury but the good news is the Montreal Canadiens' goal-scoring leader won't require surgery.
Cammalleri suffered the injury during a 3-2 overtime loss Saturday in Ottawa when he fell awkwardly into the boards after being hit by Anton Volchenkov.
The 27-year-old is one of Montreal's top offensive guns with a team-leading 26 goals and 48 points in 56 games.
The Canadiens were to play without him for the first time this season Tuesday night against the visiting Vancouver Canucks.
Vancouver will have defenceman Sami Salo back after he missed four games with a groin injury.
"He's been able to practise a couple of times and he's pain-free, so he's ready to go," said Canucks coach Alain Vigneault.
The Canucks are still missing defencemen Willie Mitchell, out since Jan. 16 with a concussion, and Kevin Bieksa, who has missed 14 games with a leg injury.
Vigneault said Mitchell's condition appears to be improving.
"I think he's doing much better," he said "(Monday) was his best day, so hopefully he'll be able to do more in the next little while.
"The headaches are gone, but I'm no doctor."
The Canucks hope to have Mitchell back before the end of their eight-game road trip leading into the Olympic break.