Canadiens head coach Claude Julien has been released from St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, the team announced Friday, after having a stent placed in a coronary artery.
Doctors expect a full recovery as Julien is headed home to Montreal after he was hospitalized because of chest pain.
"Coach Julien would like to convey his most sincere thanks to everyone at St. Michael's Hospital for the wonderful care he received during his stay," the Canadiens released in a statement Friday. "He also wishes to personally and sincerely thank everyone who has sent their well wishes during this time."
Julien, who is not expected to return for Montreal's best-of-seven first-round playoff series against the Flyers, was behind the bench leading the Canadiens in Game 1 Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena. The Flyers beat Montreal, 2-1, while the series continues Friday with Game 2 at 3 p.m. ET.
Assistant coach Kirk Muller will take over head coaching duties in the interim.
The 60-year-old Julien has been with the Canadiens for parts of seven seasons over two different stints. He guided the Bruins to a Stanley Cup championship in 2011 and is Boston's all-time leader in wins with 419.
From 1981-83, Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault and Julien were teammates on the Central Hockey League's Salt Lake Golden Eagles.
NHL
"I've known Claude since I was 20, so we go way back, good friends," Vigneault said Thursday afternoon in a video interview following practice. "I'm going to reach out with him."
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