Florian Xhekaj was drafted in the fourth-round, 101st overall, by the Canadiens in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old forward has yet to play an NHL game. He had 35 points (24G / 11A0 in 69 games with the Laval Rocket (AHL) last season.
Evans was on the receiving end of a high hit from Washington's Tom Wilson in Thursday's 8-4 loss. Evans did not return to the game, exiting in the second period, but seems to have avoided a serious injury, as he could be an option to play on Saturday. The 29-year-old Evans has six points (3G / 3A) in 20 games this season.
The Canadiens have struggled lately, losing four straight (0-3-1) and being outscored 18-6. They will turn to Montembeault on Thursday, hoping to return to the win column against a Washington Capitals team playing the tail end of a back-to-back. The 29-year-old Montembeault allowed three goals on 23 shots (.870 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins, and has an ugly 3.56 GAA and .858 SV% in 11 appearances this season (4-5-1).
With Kaiden Guhle (partially torn adductor muscle) out for 8-10 weeks, the Canadiens recalled Del Gaizo from Laval (AHL) for precautionary reasons, but he did not draw into the lineup. Del Gaizo played a career-high 46 games with the Nashville Predators last season, scoring nine points (2G / 7A), but was unable to crack Montreal's roster to start the season.
With Kaiden Guhle (partially torn adductor muscle) out for 8-10 weeks, the Canadiens have recalled Del Gaizo from Laval (AHL). Del Gaizo played a career-high 46 games with the Nashville Predators last season, scoring nine points (2G / 7A), but was unable to crack Montreal's roster to start the season.
The Canadiens have been outscored 15-3 during a three-game losing skid (0-3-0), and hope to return to the win column on Monday with Dobes tending the twine after the Columbus Blue Jackets. After an outstanding start to the season, winning his first six outings, Dobes has struggled, allowing nine goals on 41 combined shots (.780 SV%) in his last two games (0-1-1). The 24-year-old Czech goalie has a 2.70 GAA and .901 SV% in eight games this season (6-1-1). The Canadiens enter Monday's contest as +111 road underdogs against the Blue Jackets.
Dach recently saw an uptick in deployment after Alex Newhook (fractured ankle) was injured earlier this week in a game against the Dallas Stars. However, Dach's elevated deployment lasted only one game, as he will be sidelined for the next several weeks due to a fractured ankle. The 24-year-old Dach scored seven points (5G / 2A) in 15 games with the Canadiens this season before his injury.
Guhle only played five games this season before suffering a lower-body injury with a 4-6 week recovery timeline. That said, the 23-year-old Guhle has suffered a setback, and will be sidelined a further 8-10 weeks due to a partially torn adductor muscle. The 23-year-old defenseman has 60 points (17G / 43A) in 174 career games with the Canadiens.
Newhook violently crashed feet-first into the board in Thursday's 7-0 loss to the Dallas Stars, exiting the game with a lower-body injury after only 5:54 time-on-ice. Despite being able to eventually skate off the ice with some assistance, the team announced on Friday that he will be sidelined for four months with a fractured ankle. The 24-year-old Newhook was off to a productive start this season, scoring 12 points (6G / 6A) in 17 games.
Newhook violently crashed feet-first into the board in Thursday's 7-0 loss to the Dallas Stars, exiting the game with a lower-body injury after only 5:54 time-on-ice. Injuries of this nature have been devastating for players in the past, but Newhook was eventually able to skate off the ice with some assistance. The Canadiens will likely provide an update on his status in the coming days.
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).
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 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.
