Canadiens' Niku diagnosed with concussion

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Sami Niku sustained a concussion in Friday night's exhibition loss to the Ottawa Senators, Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme said Saturday.

Senators forward Josh Norris hit Niku into the boards from behind early in the first period of Ottawa's 7-2 win. Niku left the game and later returned for several more shifts in the opening frame, but he didn't play over the final 40 minutes. Norris wasn't penalized for the incident.

Niku signed a two-way contract with the Canadiens in late September after he and the Winnipeg Jets agreed to terminate his previous pact.

The rearguard, who turns 25 on Oct. 10, spent his first four North American seasons with the Jets after coming over from Finland. Winnipeg drafted him 198th overall in 2015.

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