Sam Montembeault started two straight for the Canadiens, losing both and allowing seven combined goals, so the team will turn to Dobes on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 24-year-old Dobes hasn't fared much better at keeping the puck out of his net, but he has managed to string together wins in five of his last six outings (5-0-1) while posting a 2.74 GAA and .887 SV%.
Montembeault had a rough performance in his most recent outing, allowing five goals on 34 shots (.853 SV%), but managed to salvage a 6-5 overtime victory. The 29-year-old Montembeault has yet to lose in regulation since returning from a multi-week conditioning stint with the Laval Rocket (AHL), posting a 2.98 GAA and .906 SV% in five games (4-0-1). The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as -118 home favorites against a Buffalo Sabres team that is coming off a 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators.
Dach has not played in over two months, recovering from a fractured foot, but will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. The 24-year-old Dach has struggled to live up to his third-overall selection in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, a struggle compounded by recurring injuries over the past few seasons. He has seven points (5G / 2A) in 15 games this season. With Alexandre Texier (lower body) out of the lineup, Dach will likely get the opportunity to fill in for him on the top line.
Texier has been productive since joining the Canadiens earlier this season, scoring 16 points (7G / 9A) in 27 games, but he will not play on Tuesday because of a lower-body injury. Kirby Dach (fractured foot) is returning to the lineup from a multi-week absence and will fill in as Texier's replacement.
Jayden Struble will draw back into Montreal's lineup on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild, sending Xhekaj to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Xhekaj is averaging 11:37 time-on-ice, recording two points (1G / 1A) and 123 hits in 45 games this season.
Arber Xhekaj will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild, allowing Struble to re-enter the lineup. The 24-year-old Struble is averaging 14:20 time-on-ice and has six assists in 36 games this season.
Dobes has had a wildly inconsistent season, varying month to month. He had an elite 2.03 GAA and .930 SV% in six October games (6-0-0), which he followed up with a dreadful November, posting a 4.02 GAA and .849 SV% in seven games (2-3-2). The 24-year-old Czech goalie has been more reliable lately, with a 2.63 GAA and .890 SV% in nine games since the beginning of December (6-2-1). The Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as -126 home favorites against the Minnesota Wild, which defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 last night.
Dach has not played in over two months, recovering from a fractured foot, but could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. The 24-year-old Dach has struggled to live up to his third-overall selection in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, a struggle compounded by recurring injuries over the past few seasons. He has seven points (5G / 2A) in 15 games this season.
Owen Beck played 15 games with Montreal this season, scoring one point (1G / 0A), but has spent most of the 2025-26 campaign in the AHL. The 21-year-old Beck has 11 points (3G / 8A) in 22 games this season.
After some less-than-stellar performances, including allowing four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%) in yesterday's 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, Fowler has been reassigned to the Laval Rocket (AHL). The 21-year-old goalie started his NHL career in December with a solid 2.42 GAA and .918 SV% through five games (3-1-1), but has faltered since, losing four of five (1-3-1), with a 2.85 GAA and .881 SV%. The Canadiens will likely roll with their goaltending tandem from the start of the season, Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes.
Kaiden Guhle will return from a one-game absence on Thursday, sending Struble to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Struble is averaging 14:20 time-on-ice and has six assists in 36 games this season.
