Montreal Canadiens News

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).

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.

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.

Dobes has been excellent in limited action this season, and will return to the crease on Monday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 24-year-old Czech goalie has a stellar 1.46 GAA and .940 SV% in two games this season (2-0-0). Montreal enters Monday's matchup as -145 home favorites against a suddenly explosive Buffalo team that is outscoring their opposition 11-4 during a two-game winning streak. The Canadiens have an upcoming back-to-back on Wednesday and Thursday this week, so Dobes will likely be between the pipes for a second time this week as well.

Dobes has been excellent in limited action this season, and will likely return to the crease on Monday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 24-year-old Czech goalie has a stellar 1.46 GAA and .940 SV% in two games this season (2-0-0). Montreal enters Monday's matchup as -145 home favorites against a suddenly explosive Buffalo team that is outscoring their opposition 11-4 during a two-game winning streak. The Canadiens have an upcoming back-to-back on Wednesday and Thursday this week, so Dobes will likely be between the pipes for a second time this week as well.

With Kirby Dach unavailable due to a lower-body injury, Beck will play in his 14th career game and first of the season. Beck has 16 goals and 30 assists (46 points) in 67 AHL games over the last two seasons. He'll start on a line with Zack Bolduc and Joe Veleno.

With both Kirby Dach and Patrik Laine unavailable for Saturday's game vs. the Rangers, Beck has been recalled and will play. He has one goal and one assist in his first three AHL games of the season, and had one assist in 12 games with Montreal last year.

It's unclear when Dach picked up the injury, but he will not be available for Saturday's game vs. the Rangers. Joe Veleno is expected to make his Canadiens debut in Dash's place.

Guhle was hurt Thursday against the Predators and is expected to be sidelined for at least a month. It’s a tough blow for the Canadiens, and the second straight season Guhle has missed significant time due to injury. Arber Xhekaj is expected to draw back into the lineup on Saturday.

For the first time this season, Xhekaj will head to the sidelines to serve as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Xhekaj is averaging 10:53 time-on-ice, recording one point (0G / 1A), five blocks, and nine hits through four games this season. Jayden Struble will draw into Montreal's lineup as Xhekaj's replacement.

Arber Xhekaj will be a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Nashville Predators, allowing Struble to suit up for the first time this season. The 24-year-old Struble played 56 games in 2024-25, recording 13 points (2G / 11A) and 124 hits.

After a loss on opening night, the Canadiens have won three straight and will turn to Dobes between the pipes on Thursday against the Nashville Predators. The 24-year-old Dobes was solid in his only outing this season, saving 30 of 31 shots (.968 SV%) in a 5-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The Czech netminder earned himself the backup role in Montreal last season after posting a 2.74 and .909 SV% in 16 appearances (7-4-3). The Canadiens enter the action on Thursday as -148 home favorites against a Predators team that has points in three of their first four games (2-1-1).

The Canadiens are off to a 2-1-0 start to the 2025-26 season and will turn to Montembeault between the pipes on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken. The 26-year-old Montembeault played a career-high 62 games in 2024-25 (31-24-7), recording a solid 2.82 GAA and .901 SV%. He has a 2.54 GAA and .894 SV% through two games this season and should have a heavy workload again in 2025-26. The Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as -144 home favorites against a Kraken team off to a 2-0-0 start.

The 2024-25 Calder trophy winner for the NHL's best rookie has been rewarded with a lucrative eight-year contract extension worth $8.85 million AAV. The 21-year-old defenseman scored an impressive 66 points (6G / 60A) in 82 games with the Canadiens last season. Hutson is off to a slower start to his sophomore season, with only one point (0G / 1A) in his first three games, but is likely due for another productive season quarterbacking Montreal's top powerplay unit.

Bolduc missed Friday's practice and Saturday's preseason finale and was considered day-to-day. The 22-year-old Bolduc will make his Canadiens debut after tallying 19 goals and 17 assists with the Blues last season.

Starting their 2025-26 season with a back-to-back, the Canadiens will turn to Dobes between the pipes on the tail-end against the Detroit Red Wings. Dobes established himself as a serviceable netminder last season, outdueling Cayden Primeau to secure sole possession of backup duties behind Samuel Montembeault. The 24-year-old Dobes posted a 2.74 GAA, .909 SV%, and one shutout in 16 appearances (7-4-3) last season, his first taste of NHL action.

The Canadiens will start their 2025-26 campaign by turning to Montembeault between the pipes on the front end of a back-to-back set. The Canadiens are coming off a successful season in which they snuck into the playoffs, aided by a strong campaign from Montembeault, who posted a 2.82 GAA, a .901 SV%, and four shutouts in 62 appearances (31-24-7). The Canadiens will start the season on the road, entering their contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs as +135 underdogs.