Montreal Canadiens News

Chiasson was a fourth-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2021 NHL Entry, but he has yet to play an NHL game. The 22-year-old forward scored one assist in 20 games this season with the Belleville Senators (AHL).

Shepard has some NHL experience, including one appearance with the Ottawa Senators earlier this season, but has almost exclusively played in the AHL over the past few seasons. The undrafted 30-year-old goalie has a 3.65 GAA and .885 SV% in 15 games (6-7-2) this season with the Belleville Senators (AHL).

Mittelstadt was a seventh-round pick of the Canadiens in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft who has been awarded an entry-level contract after impressing at the collegiate level. The 23-year-old defenseman had 21 points (2G / 19A) in 36 games with the University of Minnesota this season.

After a tremendous performance by Jacob Fowler in Ottawa's previous game, a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators, the Canadiens will return to Dobes, who has also performed well in recent outings. The 24-year-old Dobes saved 17 of 18 shots (.944 SV%) in his most recent contest, a 3-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, and has a 2.00 GAA and .930 SV% in his last two games (2-0-0).

Caufield was limited to 10:27 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens, leaving the game due to an illness, and subsequently missing Wednesday's game against the Ottawa Senators. The 25-year-old Caufield is pacing for career-bests in all major offensive categories this season, scoring 64 points (37G / 27A) through 63 games and appears ready to rejoin the team for Saturday's game against the San Jose Sharks.

Caufield was limited to 10:27 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens, leaving the game due to an illness, and will be unavailable on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators. The 25-year-old Caufield is pacing for career-bests in all major offensive categories this season, scoring 64 points (37G / 27A) through 63 games.

Caufield was limited to 10:27 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens, leaving the game due to an illness, but is fighting to be in the lineup when the team returns to action on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators. The 25-year-old Caufield is pacing for career-bests in all major offensive categories this season, scoring 64 points (37G / 27A) through 63 games.

Fowler had a brief stint with Montreal earlier this season in an attempt to rejuvenate a weak crease, but the team's struggles have continued, which may have awarded Fowler another opportunity. The 21-year-old Fowler has been playing with Laval (AHL) since mid-January, but he was serviceable in limited action with Montreal, posting a 2.62 GAA and .902 SV% in 10 games (4-4-2). He was recalled by Montreal on Wednesday and will return to the crease against a surging Ottawa Senators team that is 7-1-2 in its last 10 games.

Caufield was limited to 10:27 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens, leaving the game due to an illness, but is anticipated to be in the lineup when the team returns to action on Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators. The 25-year-old Caufield is pacing for career-bests in all major offensive categories this season, scoring 64 points (37G / 27A) through 63 games.

Fowler had a brief stint with Montreal earlier this season in an attempt to rejuvenate a weak crease, but the team's struggles have continued, which may have awarded Fowler another opportunity. The 21-year-old Fowler has been playing with Laval (AHL) since mid-January, but he was serviceable in limited action with Montreal, posting a 2.62 GAA and .902 SV% in 10 games (4-4-2).

Montreal has failed to get consistent goaltending all season, but Dobes has solid outings in his last three and will return to the crease on Tuesday against a Toronto Maple Leafs team on a dreadful seven-game losing streak (0-5-2). The 24-year-old Dobes saved 36 of 39 shots (.923 SV%) in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings, giving him a 3.78 GAA and .874 SV% in four games since the beginning of February (2-1-1).

Xhekaj will return to the Habs lineup after sitting out each of their last two games. Jayden Struble will sit in his place.

Struble will take a seat on Friday in favour of Arber Xhekaj. Struble is yet to score a goal in 41 games this season, but has managed to pick up nine assists from the back-end.

After allowing six goals in Tuesday's 7-5 loss to the San Jose Sharks, Jakub Dobes will serve as Montreal's backup on Friday, allowing Montembeault to return to the crease for the first time in over a week. The Canadiens have received shaky performances between the pipes regardless of who they turn to, as evident by Montembeault's most recent outing, when he allowed four goals on 26 shots in a 4-3 loss to the New York Islanders. The 29-year-old Montembeault has a 2.96 GAA and .896 SV% in nine games (5-2-2) since returning from a conditioning stint with the Laval Rocket (AHL).

The Canadiens are coming off an impressive 6-2 win over the Washington Capitals, courtesy of a 27-save performance by Dobes; as such, he will return to the crease on Tuesday against the San Jose Sharks. The 24-year-old Czech goalie has been solid in recent games, dating back to before the Olympic break, winning seven of his last eight games (7-0-1) while posting a 2.96 GAA and .892 SV%. The Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as -127 road favourites against a Sharks team on a two-game winning streak.

Veleno has not played since the NHL resumed after the Olympic break, and he did not practice on Monday due to an illness. The 26-year-old Veleno is averaging 12:14 time-on-ice and has four points (2G / 2A) in 49 games this season.