Montreal Canadiens News

Montembeault saved all four shots he faced after entering Monday's exciting 7-5 victory over the Buffalo Sabres and was the goalie of record, recording the victory after relieving Cayden Primeau. The 28-year-old Montebeault has had an inconsistent 2024-25 season, recording a 3.42 GAA and .890 SV% in 12 games (4-7-1). Montembeault and the Canadiens will be heavily tested on Thursday, facing off against the Minnesota Wild and their top-10 offense, averaging 3.5 goals per game.

Tyler Motte will serve as a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Veleno to make his return from a one-game absence. The 24-year-old Veleno is averaging 11:14 time-on-ice and has two points (1G / 1A) in 13 games this season.

Kahkonen was reclaimed off waivers by the Jets after losing him via waivers to the Colorado Avalanche earlier this season. The 28-year-old Kahkonen had one game to prove himself in an Avalanche uniform but allowed four goals on 20 shots (.800 SV%) in a losing effort and was placed back on waivers, reclaimed by the Jets. Kahkonen had a poor 2023-24 campaign split between the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils, posting a 3.64 GAA and .898 SV%.

Kahkonen was placed on waivers by the Jets earlier this season and claimed by the Avalanche. The 28-year-old Kahkonen had one game to prove himself in an Avalanche uniform but allowed four goals on 20 shots (.800 SV%) in a losing effort and was placed back on waivers, reclaimed by the Jets. Kahkonen had a poor 2023-24 campaign split between the San Jose Sharks and New Jersey Devils, posting a 3.64 GAA and .898 SV%.

Condotta is an undrafted 27-year-old that made his professional debut in the 2021-22 season with the Laval Rocket (AHL). He has four games of NHL experience and has four points (0G / 4A) in nine games in the AHL this season.

The Canadiens are riding a four-game losing skid, their second of the season, and will turn to Montembeault between the pipes for the third consecutive game on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. After starting the season exquisitely, saving 72 of 73 shots (.986 SV%) in his first two games (2-0-0), Montembeault has settled into an ugly 3.37 GAA and .898 SV% through nine games (3-5-1). The Canadiens will face off against a Devils squad with an 8-5-2 record that has scored 53 goals this season, third-most in the NHL.

Kapanen was the 64th overall pick of the Canadiens in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old Kapanen made his NHL debut this season, scoring two points (0G / 2A) in 12 games with the Canadiens.

Condotta is an undrafted 27-year-old that made his professional debut in the 2021-22 season with the Laval Rocket (AHL). He has four games of NHL experience and has four points (0G / 4A) in nine games in the AHL this season.

The Canadiens will turn to Montembeault between the pipes for a second consecutive contest as they aim to snap a three-game losing skid (0-3-0). After a superb start to the 2024-25 season, saving 72 of 73 shots (.986 SV%) in his first two games (2-0-0), Montembeault has struggled to tread water in his six since (1-5-0), allowing three or more goals four times, posting a .843 SV%. The Canadiens enter the action on Tuesday as +114 home underdogs against a Calgary Flames club that has lost five of their last six (1-5-0).

Xhekaj was a healthy scratch for Thursday's game in Washington but he will replace Justin Barron in the lineup on Saturday. Xhekaj has no points and a minus-6 rating in eight games this season.

Montembeault was pulled after allowing five goals on 10 shots in the Canadiens' loss to the Kraken on Tuesday. Cayden Primeau struggled on Thursday, so the Canadiens will go back to Montembeault Saturday in Pittsburgh. Montembeault has had some ugly starts this season but still holds a 57.1 QualityStart% and comes into Saturday with a 3.67 GAA and .891 SV% in seven games.

Del Gaizo will make just his fourth appearance of the season when the Oilers come to town on Thursday. Dante Fabbro will sit in his place.

Xhekaj has played the last three games but will return to being a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. Through eight games this season, Xhekaj has seven blocks and 16 hits but an ugly -6 plus/minus.

Guhle has not played since October 17th, missing five games due to an upper-body injury, but will draw back into the lineup on Thursday. The 22-year-old defender was off to an excellent start to the season before his injury, scoring four points (1G / 3A) in five games.

Del Gaizo has played three games with the Predators this season, splitting time with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL). The 25-year-old has predominantly played in the AHL since being drafted in the fourth-round by the Predators in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, including a 34 point campaign (8G / 26A) in 60 games with Milwaukee last season.

Guhle has missed five straight games due to an upper-body injury but is nearing a return to the Canadiens' lineup. The 22-year-old defenseman has had a strong start to the 2024-25 season, tallying four points (1G / 3A), 20 blocks, seven hits, and a +4 plus/minus rating in five games.