Montreal Canadiens News

Samuel Montembeault has been an afterthought in Montreal lately, with Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler leading the way between the pipes. The 24-year-old Dobes was tremendous in his most recent outing, saving 34 of 35 shots (.971 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. He has won six of his last eight games (6-2-0) while posting an outstanding 1.90 GAA and .937 SVV%. Still, the Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as +146 road underdogs against a Tampa Bay Lightning team with points in eight straight games (6-0-2).

Anderson will return from a one-game absence, suiting up on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 31-year-old forward is averaging 14:03 time-on-ice and has 22 points (13G / 9A) in 64 games this season. That said, in his last 13 games, Anderson has just two points (1G / 1A).

Samuel Montembeault has been an afterthought in Montreal lately, with Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler leading the way between the pipes. The 24-year-old Dobes was tremendous in his most recent outing, saving 34 of 35 shots (.971 SV%) in a 3-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. He has won six of his last eight games (6-2-0) while posting an outstanding 1.90 GAA and .937 SVV%. Still, the Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as +146 road underdogs against a Tampa Bay Lightning team with points in eight straight games (6-0-2).

Carrier has been a stabilizing presence on Montreal's blueline this season, appearing in all 73 games, but he is battling an upper-body injury and could be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season. The 29-year-old defenseman is averaging 19:05 time-on-ice and has 22 points (7G / 15A) in 73 games this season.

Engstrom, a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, made his NHL debut earlier this season, playing 11 games with Montreal, but has spent most of the 2025-26 season in the AHL. The 22-year-old Swedish defenseman has 34 points (10G / 24A) in 45 games this season with the Laval Rocket (AHL).

Protz was a fourth-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and was awarded a three-year, entry-level contract after completing his fourth season in the OHL. The 20-year-old defenseman scored 23 points (5G / 18A) in 64 games this season with the Brantford Bulldogs (OHL).

Dobes has become the most reliable netminder for the Canadiens over the past few weeks and will return to the crease on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. In his last six games (4-2-0), the 24-year-old Czech goalie has dazzled with a solid 2.20 GAA and .926 SV%. The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as slight -112 home favourites against a Blue Jackets team that is 5-1-0 in their last six games.

Veleno will slot into the lineup on Thursday in place of Alexandre Texier. Veleno has two goals and two assists in 51 games this season.

Texier will take a seat on Thursday in favour of Joe Veleno. Texier has appeared in 46 games this season, tallying eight goals and 12 assists.

Dobes has become the most reliable netminder for the Canadiens over the past few weeks and will return to the crease on Thursday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. In his last six games (4-2-0), the 24-year-old Czech goalie has dazzled with a solid 2.20 GAA and .926 SV%. The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as slight -112 home favourites against a Blue Jackets team that is 5-1-0 in their last six games.

Veleno will take a seat on Tuesday in order to make way for the return of Josh Anderson (upper-body). Veleno has two goals and two assists in 51 games this season.

Anderson is a surprise addition to Montreal's lineup on Tuesday as he is set to return from an upper-body injury. The 31-year-old Anderson is averaging 14:11 time-on-ice, recording 22 points (13G / 9A), 78 shots, and 112 hits in 61 games this season.

The Canadiens have relied exclusively on Jacob Fowler and Jakub Dobes since early March and will do so again, turning to Dobes when they face the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. The 24-year-old Dobes was excellent in his most recent outing, but did not receive enough goal support, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%) in a 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Dobes has a 2.73 GAA and .899 SV% in seven games since returning from the Olympic break (4-3-0). The Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as +116 home underdogs against a Hurricanes team on a three-game winning streak.

The Canadiens have relied exclusively on Jacob Fowler and Jakub Dobes since early March and will do so again, turning to Dobes when they face the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday. The 24-year-old Dobes was excellent in his most recent outing, but did not receive enough goal support, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%) in a 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Dobes has a 2.73 GAA and .899 SV% in seven games since returning from the Olympic break (4-3-0). The Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as +116 home underdogs against a Hurricanes team on a three-game winning streak.

Fowler allowed four goals on 28 shots in the Canadiens' loss to Ducks last Sunday. Since coming back from the AHL, Fowler has gone 1-1-0 while allowing six goals on 62 shots (.903 SV%). For the season, he's 5-5-2 with a 2.69 GAA, .902 SV% and one shutout in 12 games with the Habs. Tonight he'll face the Islanders on home-ice, where Montreal are -127 favourites.