Montreal Canadiens News

Arber Xhekaj will return to Montreal's lineup on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights, sending Engstrom to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 22-year-old Engstrom made his NHL debut on Wednesday, playing 10:42 time-on-ice.

Alexandre Texier will make his Canadiens' debut on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights, resulting in Davidson being a healthy scratch. The 23-year-old Davidson is averaging 8:17 time-on-ice and has zero points through five games this season.

Texier has not played since November 6th, and was finally placed on waivers last week by the St. Louis Blues. The 26-year-old Texier has one assist while averaging 10:15 time-on-ice through eight games this season. Jared Davidson will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Texier's Canadiens' debut.

Adam Engstrom will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights, allowing Xhekaj to return from a one-game absence. The 24-year-old Xhekaj is averaging 11:40 time-on-ice and has one assist and 40 penalty minutes in 20 games. The usually hard-hitting defenseman has seen a massive dip in his hit production this season, averaging only 1.5 hits per game, after averaging 2.8 in his previous three seasons.

With the emergence of Lane Hutson and the acquisition of Noah Dobson, Matheson has fallen down Montreal's depth chart since his career-best 62-point season (11G / 51A) in 2023-24, but remains a key component of their blueline and has been rewarded with a five-year, $6 million AAV contract extension. The 31-year-old defenseman doesn't see much powerplay time anymore, but still leads the team, averaging 24:50 time-on-ice this season. He has 14 points (4G / 10A) in 22 games.

The Canadiens have won two straight, both with Jakub Dobes tending the twine, but they will turn to Montembeault on Friday against the Vegas Golden Knights. After a breakout 2024-25 season, Montembeault has struggled in 2025-26, posting an ugly 3.71 GAA and .852 SV% in 12 appearances (4-5-1). Worse, he has lost his last four outings (0-4-0) while allowing 12 goals on 52 combined shots (.813 SV%). The Canadiens enter Friday's contest as +160 road underdogs against a Golden Knights team that has lost three straight (0-1-2).

Engstrom was drafted in the third-round, 92nd overall, in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft by the Canadiens. The 22-year-old is in his second professional season in North America, tallying 14 points (5G / 9A) through 18 games with the Laval Rockets (AHL). Arber Xhekaj will be a healthy scratch to accommodate Engstrom's debut.

Adam Engstrom will draw into the lineup for his season debut on Wednesday against the Utah Mammoth, with Xhekaj being the odd-man out as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Xhekaj is averaging 11:40 time-on-ice and has one assist and 40 penalty minutes in 20 games. The usually hard-hitting defenseman has seen a massive dip in his hit production this season, averaging only 1.5 hits per game, after averaging 2.8 in his previous three seasons.

With several notable players returning from injury, Blais will head to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 29-year-old Blais has seen limited action this season but has been effective in primarily a fourth-line role, tallying three points (1G / 2A) and 28 hits in eight games.

After an excellent start to the season, the Canadiens have lost five of their last six (1-4-1), falling outside of the playoffs in an ultra-tight Eastern Conference. Dobes was excellent in Montreal's most recent game, helping the team snap a five-game losing skid by saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The 24-year-old Czech goalie has a 2.88 GAA and .895 SV% in 11 games this season (7-2-2). The Canadiens enter Wednesday's contest as +120 road underdogs against a Mammoth team that has outscored its opponents 8-3 on a two-game winning streak.

Roy was recalled last week after Kirby Dach (lower body) was injured, and drew into the lineup for two games, but will return to the Laval Rocket (AHL). The 22-year-old Roy spent most of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, scoring 35 points (20G / 15A) in 47 games with Laval.