Montreal Canadiens News

After a two-game absence, Xhekaj will draw back into the Canadiens' lineup on Saturday against the St. Louis Blues. In five games this season, Xhekaj has zero points, a -4 plus/minus, and 10 hits.

On the front end of a back-to-back, the Canadiens will turn to Montembeault between the pipes for the fifth time in the last six games. After a fabulous start to the season, saving 72 of 73 shots (.986 SV%) in his first two contests (2-0-0), Montembeault has lost three straight (0-3-0), allowing three or more goals in each while posting an ugly .829 SV%. The Canadiens will host a St. Louis Blues club averaging 3.0 goals per game.

Kahkonen has not played a game in the AHL since the 2019-20 season. The 28-year-old 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%, but could get an opportunity at the crease in Colorado if Georgiev and Annunen are unable to provide consistent efforts.

Alexey Toropchenko (lower body) will return to the lineup from a two-game absence, resulting in Bolduc being a healthy scratch. The 21-year-old Bolduc has two points (0G / 2A) in six games this season.

Texier has not played since the season opener for the Blues, missing five games due to an upper-body injury. In his only game of the season, Texier recorded one assist and two shots on goal in 13:03 time-on-ice.

Slafkovsky has been battling a shoulder injury since last week. He was a game-time decision on Saturday but managed to play and recorded two points (0G / 2A), one shot, and four hits while playing 15:57 time-on-ice. This ongoing shoulder issue continues to be an impairment for Slafkovsky, who will be shut down for at least the next week before being reevaluated.

Texier has not played since the season opener for the Blues, missing five games due to an upper-body injury. In his only game of the season, Texier recorded one assist and two shots on goal in 13:03 time-on-ice.

The Canadiens are riding a three-game losing skid (0-2-1), being outscored 14-7, and will attempt to return to the win column on Tuesday with Montembeault between the pipes. The 27-year-old Montembeault was sensational to start the 2024-25 season, saving 72 of 73 shots (.986 SV%) in his first two games (2-0-0), before losing his next two outings (0-2-0), falling drastically to a .867 SV% in those two games. The Canadiens will host a New York Rangers team that has yet to lose in regulation (4-0-1).

Slafkovsky has been battling a shoulder injury since last week. He was a game-time decision on Saturday but managed to play and recorded two points (0G / 2A), one shot, and four hits while playing 15:57 time-on-ice. This ongoing shoulder issue continues to be an impairment for Slafkovsky, whose status is uncertain for Tuesday's contest against the New York Rangers.

Slafkovsky suffered a shoulder injury at practice on Friday but will still travel with the team to New York for the Saturday matchup against the Islanders. The 20-year-old Slovak is off to a strong start to the 2024-25 campaign, with four points (1G / 3A) in five contests.

Guhle played 23:09 time-on-ice in Thursday's 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings but suffered a lower-body injury at some point. 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.

The Canadiens will turn to Montembeault in the crease for the third straight time and the fourth time in five games to start the season. Montembeault will attempt to erase his previous effort from his memory when he allowed five goals on 30 shots (.833 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, his first loss of the season. The Canadiens enter action on Thursday as +120 home underdogs against a Los Angeles Kings team that lost 6-2 last night to the Toronto Maple Leafs and has allowed an absurd 14 goals in their last two games (0-1-1).