Florian Xhekaj is expected to be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets, allowing Davidson to re-enter the lineup. The 23-year-old Davidson is averaging 8:17 time-on-ice with zero points through five games in his first NHL season.
The Canadiens have lost seven of their last 10 (3-6-1) and will turn to Dobes on Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets. After a sensational first month of the season, posting a stellar 1.97 GAA and .930 SV% in six games (6-0-0), Dobes has fallen off significantly, ending November with an ugly 4.42 GAA and .849 SV% in seven games (2-3-2). The Canadiens hope to change their fortunes on Wednesday, entering the action as +105 home underdogs against a struggling Jets team that has lost five of its last six (1-5-0).
Engstrom will take a seat on Tuesday to make way for the return of Jayden Struble (upper-body). Engstrom has appeared in two games since making his NHL debut last week, registering two blocked shots, two shots on goal, and one hit.
Struble did not play on Saturday due to an upper-body injury, but returned to practice on Monday. The 24-year-old defenseman is averaging 15:12 time-on-ice and has four assists in 19 games this season. Montreal returns to action on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators.
Montembeault had lost four straight decisions (0-4-0), posting an ugly 3.00 GAA and .813 SV, but showed promise in his most recent outing, snapping the losing skid with his best performance of the season, saving 30 of 31 shots (.968 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. The 29-year-old Montembeault hopes to build some momentum and improve his concerning 3.49 GAA and .864 SV% through 13 appearances (5-5-1) when he returns to the crease on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators.
Struble did not play on Saturday due to an upper-body injury, but returned to practice on Monday. The 24-year-old defenseman is averaging 15:12 time-on-ice and has four assists in 19 games this season. Montreal returns to action on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators.
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.
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.
Poulin made his Pittsburgh season debut recently, playing two games in favor of an injured Ville Koivunen, but he will return to Wilkes-Barre Scranton (AHL). The 24-year-old Poulin has 15 points (7G / 8A) in 16 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season.
