Canadiens lose Brian Gionta for rest of NHL playoffs

The Canadiens will have to climb out of a three-games-to-one hole without captain Brian Gionta.

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BROSSARD, Quebec (AP) Montreal Canadiens forward Brian Gionta will have surgery on his torn left biceps, knocking him out of the rest of the playoffs.

The Canadiens announced Wednesday that Gionta undergo surgery on Friday. The Montreal captain sat out Games 2 and 4 of the team's first-round playoff series against the Ottawa Senators with what was called an upper body injury.

Gionta was limited to 31 games in the 2011-12 season due to torn biceps.

Ottawa leads the best-of-seven series 3-1 with Game 5 on Thursday at Montreal.

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The Canadiens did have some good news as center Lars Eller has resumed skating. He was taken from the ice on a stretcher in Game 1 with a concussion and facial injuries after an open-ice hit by Ottawa defenseman Eric Gryba, who was suspended two games. There was no immediate word on when Eller will return.

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Coach Michel Therrien said forwards Brandon Prust and Ryan White would both sit out Game 5 with upper body injuries.

Also, goalie Carey Price is considered day-to-day with a lower body injury. Price appeared to be hurt late in the third period Tuesday night in the Senators' 3-2 overtime win, and was replaced with Peter Budaj for the extra period.