Canadiens star Max Pacioretty's status for Montreal's playoff opener is still uncertain as he awaits clearance from the team's medical staff.

Montreal coach Michel Therrien said Tuesday that he would be "surprised" if Pacioretty is available when the Canadiens host the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 7 p.m. ET), though Therrien was not ready to rule Pacioretty out.

Pacioretty, who led the team with 37 goals and 67 points in the regular season, missed the last two games with what the team is calling an upper-body injury. He left a game against Florida on April 5th after hitting his head on the boards.

The winger practiced with his teammates for the second straight day on Tuesday but did not participate in any contact drills. He was wearing a slightly tinted visor.

Defenceman Tom Gilbert is expected to return to the lineup after missing the final two regular-season games with an upper-body injury. Gilbert has been wearing a plastic jaw protector on his helmet since being struck in the face by a puck on March 21.