Montreal Canadiens News

Montembeault has had a disappointing 2025-26 season, but will hope to pick up where he left off in his final outing before the Olympic break, saving 36 of 37 shots (.973 SV%) in a 5-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Troubles aside, the 29-year-old Montembeault was performing better after returning from a conditioning stint in the AHL in late December, posting a 2.84 GAA and .902 SV% in his last eight outings (5-2-1). The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as -142 home favourites against a New York Islanders team that entered the break on a two-game winning streak.

Montembeault has had a disappointing 2025-26 season, but will hope to pick up where he left off in his final outing before the Olympic break, saving 36 of 37 shots (.973 SV%) in a 5-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Troubles aside, the 29-year-old Montembeault was performing better after returning from a conditioning stint in the AHL in late December, posting a 2.84 GAA and .902 SV% in his last eight outings (5-2-1). The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as -142 home favourites against a New York Islanders team that entered the break on a two-game winning streak.

With Alex Newhook (ankle) set to return from a multi-month absence, Bolduc will exit the lineup as a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Bolduc has 23 points (10G / 13A) in 57 games this season and had five points (0G / 5A) in Montreal’s final seven games heading into the Olympic break.

Newhook has been sidelined since mid-November due to a fractured ankle, but is set to return to Montreal's lineup in their first game back from the Olympic break on Thursday against the New York Islanders. The 25-year-old Newhook is averaging 14:38 time-on-ice and has 12 points (6G / 6A) in 17 games this season.

Kapanen was scratched for Finland's tournament opener, but he'll replace Joel Kiviranta as the 13th forward vs. Sweden. Kapanen is having a great season with Montreal, scoring 18 goals with 13 assists (31 points) through 57 games, but he likely won't see many minutes on Friday.

With Linus Ullmark battling an illness, Shepard has been recalled from Belleville (AHL) to serve as James Reimer's backup against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 30-year-old goalie has a 3.63 GAA and .888 SV% in 14 games with Belleville this season (6-6-2).

Blais has been productive in bottom-six roles this season, but has not been able to solidify a spot on an NHL roster. The 29-year-old forward is averaging 8:26 time-on-ice, recording eight points (3G / 5A) and 78 hits in 21 games combined with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens.

Blais has been productive in bottom-six roles this season, but has not been able to solidify a spot on an NHL roster. The 29-year-old forward is averaging 8:26 time-on-ice, recording eight points (3G / 5A) and 78 hits in 21 games combined with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens.

Arber Xhekaj will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Struble to re-enter the lineup against the Winnipeg Jets. The 24-year-old Struble is averaging 14:07 time-on-ice, recording seven points (0G / 7A), 17 blocks, and 71 hits in 38 games this season.

Jayden Struble will draw back into Montreal's lineup on Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets, sending Xhekaj to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 25-year-old Xhekaj is averaging 11:20 time-on-ice, recording two points (1G / 1A), 33 blocks, 135 hits, and 104 penalty minutes in 50 games.

Jakub Dobes has started the past several games for the Canadiens. Still, after losing 4-3 to the Minnesota Wild on Monday, Montreal will turn to Montembeault on Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets. The 29-year-old Montembeault showed encouraging signs immediately after returning from a conditioning stint in Laval (AHL), but has seemingly returned to his early-season struggles, allowing three or more goals in four straight games (1-2-1), posting a 3.80 GAA and .867 SV%. The Canadiens enter Wednesday's contest with even -105 odds on the road against a struggling Jets team that has lost four of its last six games (2-2-2).

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, coming off a stellar 36-save performance in a 4-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres and improving to 6-0-0 in his last six games. The Canadiens enter the action on Monday as +113 road underdogs against the Minnesota Wild, who hold the best record in the NHL since the beginning of November (29-8-7).