Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA

Montreal Canadiens News

Dobes will start vs. Dallas on Thursday.

With Montembeault continuing to struggle this season, allowing four or more goals in five of his last seven games (3-3-1), the Canadiens will continue their goalie rotation, turning to Dobes on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. The 24-year-old Dobes has been excellent this season, but is coming off his first loss of the 2025-26 season, allowing four goals on 28 shots (.857 SV%) in a 4-3 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils. He has a solid 2.25 GAA and .920 SV% in seven games this season (6-0-1).

Jakub Dobes
Montembeault will start vs. Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Montembeault has been outplayed by Jakub Dobes for most of the season, but has shown promise in recent games. The 29-year-old Montembeault has helped his team record a point in three straight outings (2-0-1), saving 77 of 86 shots in the process (.895 SV%). He has a 3.46 GAA and .864 SV% in eight games this season (4-3-1). The Canadiens enter the action on Tuesday as slight -107 home favorites against a Los Angeles Kings team that is 6-1-2 on the road this season.

Sam Montembeault
Dobes will start in New Jersey on Thursday.

Sam Montembeault allowed four goals on Tuesday, a regularity for him this season, but managed arguably his best performance, saving 38 of 42 shots (.905 SV%) in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Still, Montembeault's performance adds further speculation to Jakub Dobes' claim for more playing time. The 24-year-old Dobes has been outstanding this season, posting a 1.97 GAA and .930 SV% in six games (6-0-0), and will return to the crease on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils.

Jakub Dobes
Montembeault will start vs. Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Unexpectedly, the Canadiens have alternated goalies this season, with both Jakub Dobes and Sam Montembeault starting six games. Dobes has been the better of the two goalies, but Montembeault will be between the pipes on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 29-year-old Montembeault has a concerning 3.66 GAA and .839 SV% in six games this season (3-3-0). Still, the Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as -152 home favorites against a Flyers team that is tied for last in the Eastern Conference with a 6-5-1 record.

Sam Montembeault
Montembeault is expected to start vs. Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Unexpectedly, the Canadiens have alternated goalies this season, with both Jakub Dobes and Sam Montembeault starting six games. Dobes has been the better of the two goalies, but Montembeault will likely be between the pipes on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 29-year-old Montembeault has a concerning 3.66 GAA and .839 SV% in six games this season (3-3-0). Still, the Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as -152 home favorites against a Flyers team that is tied for last in the Eastern Conference with a 6-5-1 record.

Sam Montembeault
Reinbacher has been loaned to Laval (AHL).

The Canadiens' fifth-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft has battled injuries early in his professional career and has been sidelined to this point in the 2025-26 season, recovering from a broken metacarpal bone. The 20-year-old defenseman has yet to play an NHL game and was limited to only 10 contests with the Laval Rocket in 2024-25, scoring five points (2G / 3A).

David Reinbacher
Dobes will start in Seattle on Tuesday.

After 10 games (7-3-0), Montreal has been pleasantly surprised by the play of Dobes between the pipes and will turn to him for his sixth start of the season on Tuesday when they face off against the Seattle Kraken. Dobes has been near perfect to start the 2025-26 season, posting a stellar 1.77 GAA and .940 SV% in five games (5-0-0). The Czech goalie started last season with a similar 5-0-0 record. The Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as -121 road favorites against a Kraken team off to a solid 5-2-2 start.

Jakub Dobes
Dach (lower-body) will return to Montreal's lineup in Edmonton on Thursday.

Dach has not played in Montreal's previous three games, recovering from a lower-body injury, but will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. The 24-year-old Dach is averaging 14:29 time-on-ice and has two points (1G / 1A) in five games this season.

Kirby Dach
Montembeault will start in Edmonton on Thursday.

On the tail end of a back-to-back, the Canadiens will turn to Momtemeault between the pipes on Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers. Montembeault has failed to be spectacular early in the 2025-26 season, often outdueled by counterpart Jakub Dobes, but has remained serviceable, winning two of four games (2-2-0) despite a pedestrian 3.26 GAA and .857 SV%. The 28-year-old Montembeault faces arguably his toughest competition of the season, facing off against Connor McDavid and the Oilers.

Sam Montembeault
Dobes will start in Calgary on Wednesday.

The Canadiens have alternated goalies early in the 2025-26 season, a trend that will continue on Wednesday with Dobes tending the twine against the Calgary Flames. The 24-year-old Czech goalie has been outstanding through three games (3-0-0), posting a stellar 1.63 GAA and .939 SV%. Dobes had a similar start to the 2024-25 season, winning his first five contests while posting a .940 SV%. The 5-2-0 Canadiens enter Wednesday's contest as -115 road favorites against a Flames team desperate to stop a six-game losing skid (0-6-0).

Jakub Dobes
Dach (lower-body) is expected travel and play on Montreal's upcoming road trip.

Dach has not played in Montreal's previous two games, recovering from a lower-body injury, but is nearing a return and will travel with the team on their upcoming four-game road trip. The 24-year-old Dach is averaging 14:29 time-on-ice and has two points (1G / 1A) in five games this season.

Kirby Dach
Beck has been loaned to the Laval Rocket (AHL).

Beck was recalled from Laval (AHL) last week and drew into two games for the Canadiens, but will return to the AHL. The 21-year-old forward was the 33rd-overall pick by Montreal in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He spent most of the 2024-25 campaign in the AHL, tallying 44 points (15G / 29A) in 64 games with Laval.

Owen Beck