Claude Julien released from hospital, will return to Montreal

Montreal Canadiens head coach Claude Julien will return home to Montreal to rest, the team announced on Friday morning.

The Canadiens say that he underwent a stenting of a coronary artery. The procedure was completed Thursday afternoon. Julien conveyed his most sincere thanks to everyone at St. Michael’s Hospital for the wonderful care he received during his stay. He also wishes to personally and sincerely thank everyone who has sent their well wishes during this time.

Kirk Muller was announced to be the interim head coach alongside Dominique Ducharme and Luke Richardson for the remainder of the series against the Philadelphia Flyers, and beyond that should the Canadiens move on. He has three years as a NHL head coach but has not coached an NHL playoff game as a head coach.

The procedure Julien underwent is for a blood vessel occlusion fixed by implantation of a wire mesh.

Game two of the series is scheduled for Friday afternoon, just around 24 hours after most Canadiens learned about the status of their head coach.