Montreal Canadiens News

Texier played 12:23 in Thursday's game in Buffalo, but will be replaced by Jordan Kyrou, who re-enters the lineup tonight. Texier has just one assist in eight games this season.

Jordan Kyrou is expected to be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, allowing Texier to enter the lineup for the first time since October 28th. The 26-year-old Texier is averaging 9:57 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) in seven games this season.

Blais made his season debut with the Maple Leafs last week and has been productive in a bottom-six role, recording two points (1G / 1A) and 11 hits while averaging 9:56 time-on-ice. The 29-year-old Blais spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, but is no stranger to the NHL, with 73 points (28G / 45A) in 260 career games.

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.

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 26-year-old defenseman has one point (0G / 1A) in six games with the Laval Rocket (AHL) in 2025-26.

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.

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.

Trudeau turned pro in 2023 and has played three straight seasons with the Laval Rocket. Most recently, the 23-year-old defenseman had five goals and 14 assists (19 points) in 68 games. With a loaded blueline in Montreal, Trudeau's path to NHL games is difficult.

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).

With William Nylander (lower body) out of the lineup on Wednesday, Blais will make his season debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 29-year-old Blais spent the entirety of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, but is no stranger to the NHL, with 71 points (27G / 44A) in 257 career games.

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.

Shepard was recalled from Belleville (AHL) on Monday to serve as the backup to Leevi Merilainen, allowing Linus Ullmark to rest before returning to the crease on Tuesday. The undrafted Shedpard played one NHL game with the Washington Capitals last season but spent most of the campaign in the AHL, posting a 2.80 GAA and .891 SV% in 39 games (23-11-4) with the Hershey Bears.

With Robert Thomas (upper body) and Jake Neighbours (undisclosed) ruled out of Monday's contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Alexey Toropchenko and Alexandrew Texier will draw back into the lineup. The 26-year-old Texier is averaging 8:25 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) in five games this season.

Ottawa's coaching staff emphasized that there is no injury to Linus Ullmark, but he will have the day off on Monday, with the recently recalled Shepard serving as the backup to Leevi Merilainen. Ullmark is scheduled to return to the crease on Tuesday, at which point Shepard will likely return to Belleville (AHL).