Montreal Canadiens News

Montembeault will be back between the pipes on Thursday as the Canadiens host the Sharks after Cayden Primeau got the nod on Wednesday in Philadelphia. Montembeault was excellent in his last start, surrendering just three goals on 48 shots as the Canadiens edged the Rangers in a 4-3 shootout victory on Saturday. The performance raised his SV% to .906 on the season to go along with his 9-5-3 record. He's got a great chance of staying in the win column on Thursday with the Habs being -165 favourites over the Sharks.

With the immanent return to Charlie Lindgren (lower body), Hunter Shepard has been returned to the Hershey Bears (AHL) on Tuesday. The 28-year-old American netminder made his NHL debut this season and has appeared in four games with the Capitals, posting a 2-2-0, 3.19 GAA and .894 SV%.

Kahkonen did not play in Saturday's 4-1 home loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs but will tend the twine on Tuesday in a rematch in Toronto. The Sharks are riding an 11-game losing streak, failing to record a point in each contest (0-11-0), and, as such, are sizeable +379 road favourites against the Maple Leafs, who have won three straight, outscoring their competition 9-2.

Andersen has been battling an undisclosed injury after playing 15:18 time-on-ice on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars but will not miss any game action as he is expected to play on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. Anderson only has six goals through 37 games this season but has six points (5G / 1A) in his last eight.

With Charlie Lindgren still unavailable due to an upper-body injury, it will be Hunter Shepard who gets the calls for the tail-end of Washington's back-to-back on Wednesday. Though it's just the fourth start of the season for the 28-year-old rookie, Shepard has performed well when called upon this season. He owns a .926 SV% and a 2.27 GAA to go along with his 2-0-1 record on the season. His last start came on Saturday where he stopped 34 of the 36 shots he faced before eventually falling to the Predators 3-2 in a shootout. Shepard will have his hands full tonight with the Capitals being +140 home underdogs to Jack Hughes and the Devils.

Kahkonen is winless in his last six appearances but will return to the crease on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. Despite a 0-5-0 record, Kahkonen has allowed three or fewer goals in four of his last five outings and has posted a respectable .923 SV%. That said, the Sharks are +161 home underdogs on Tuesday against the Red Wings, who have lost three of their last four games (1-3-0).

Kahkonen is winless in his last six appearances but is expected to return to the crease on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. Despite a 0-5-0 record, Kahkonen has allowed three or fewer goals in four of his last five outings and has posted a respectable .923 SV%. That said, the Sharks are +161 home underdogs on Tuesday against the Red Wings, who have lost three of their last four games (1-3-0).

Montembeault has only started one of the last four games for the Canadiens but will return to the crease for the second consecutive game on Tuesday when they visit the Dallas Stars. Montemneault has unquestionably been the most reliable netminder between the pipes for the Canadiens but has struggled lately, allowing four goals in each of his last two games (0-1-1), posting a subpar .818 SV%. The Canadiens are significant +244 road underdogs against a Stars team that has outscored their opposition 13-5 in their last two games (2-0-0).

Caufield has four points during his current four-game point streak (1G / 3A) and will play on Thursday after not partaking in the morning skate on Thursday. The talented winger has one goal in his last 11 games but still produces a high shot volume, averaging 3.4 shots per game.

Caufield has four points during his current four-game point streak (1G / 3A) and will likely be a game-time decision after not partaking in the morning skate on Thursday. The talented winger has one goal in his last 11 games but still produces a high shot volume, averaging 3.4 shots per game.

With Mackenzie Blackwood out of the lineup due to illness, the Sharks will turn to Kahkonen on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Kings. Despite failing to record a victory, Kahkonen has played very well in his last two outings, allowing only four goals on 62 combined shots (.935 SV%). That said, the Sharks are significant +294 road underdogs against the Kings, who will turn back to David Rittich, who limited the Sharks to one goal in a 4-1 loss last week.

Veleno played 14:07 time-on-ice on Saturday but suffered an undisclosed injury at some point that will keep him out of the lineup on Wednesday against the Minnesota Wild. The 23-year-old centerman has four points (1G / 3A), a -10 plus/minus, and 15 shots in his last eight games.

Blais has only played one of the last six games for the Blues but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. Blais' ice time has decreased by more than a minute this season but he is still committed to his hard-nosed style of play, averaging 3.08 hits per game.

Montembeault will start for the third time in the last four games for the Canadiens on Thursday when they face off against the Minnesota Wild. Over his last nine appearances, Montembeault has recorded a save percentage of .900 or better in each contest, posting a combined .921 SV% and 5-2-1 record. The Canadiens, looking for their first three-game winning streak of the season, will be hard-pressed for a victory against a Minnesota team that defeated them 5-2 on October 17th when Montembeault allowed five goals on 35 shots (.857 SV%).