Xhekaj spent just over two months with Laval (AHL) but has earned his call up back to Montreal after scoring three goals, 11 points, 34 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus in 17 games with the Rocket this season. The 22-year-old tough guy returns to the Canadiens, where he appeared in 17 games prior to being sent down and had a goal and two assists to go along with 47 PIMs.
After defeating the New Jersey Devils 3-2 yesterday, the Canadiens will turn to Primeau between the pipes on the back end of a back-to-back. Primeau has played only one game this month, a stellar performance in a 3-2 losing effort to the Philadelphia Flyers when he allowed two goals on 39 shots (.949 SV%). The Canadiens are +159 road underdogs against a rested Ottawa Senators team that has lost six of their last seven (1-6-0).
Montembeault will start for the third straight game and for the sixth time in the last eight for the Canadiens on Wednesday. Montembeault was heroic in a losing effort on Saturday, nearly willing his team to victory over the high-octane Edmonton Oilers, saving 39 of 41 shots (.951 SV%) in a 2-1 loss. He has a 2-2-0 record in his last four, allowing three or fewer goals in each contest.
It's unclear when Anderson picked up the injury, but he will be unavailable for Saturday's game vs. the Oilers. The Canadiens recalled Joshua Roy on Friday, so he could make his NHL debut in Anderson's spot.
Roy was selected in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL draft and has excelled in his first year as a pro, picking up 30 points (12G / 18A) in his first 34 AHL games, good for second on the team. The 20-year-old could make his NHL debut Saturday vs. the Oilers.
Montembeault will be back between the pipes on Thursday as the Canadiens host the Sharks after Cayden Primeau got the nod on Wednesday in Philadelphia. Montembeault was excellent in his last start, surrendering just three goals on 48 shots as the Canadiens edged the Rangers in a 4-3 shootout victory on Saturday. The performance raised his SV% to .906 on the season to go along with his 9-5-3 record. He's got a great chance of staying in the win column on Thursday with the Habs being -165 favourites over the Sharks.
Heineman has yet to pick up a point in any of the four games he's appeared in in 2023-24 but will be a healthy scratch Thursday vs. San Jose as Rafeal Harvey-Pinard returns from injury. The 22-year-old has averaged only 9:57 TOI in the games he has appeared in, picking up a +2 plus/minus while playing a complimentary role.
Harvey-Pinard has been out since November 14th due to a lower-body injury but will return to the Canadiens' lineup Thursday as he replaces Emil Heineman. The 25-year-old Sophomore had yet to score in 13 games before his injury, but had four assists, 11 SOG, two PIMs and a +1 plus/minus.
Lindstrom was dealt to Montreal in the offseason alongside a 2025 fourth-round pick for Jeff Petry but has struggled to find his footing in his first season with the Canadiens and will now join the Anaheim Ducks after being claimed from waivers on Wednesday. The 25-year-old carries a $950,000 cap hit and had three goals, an assist, 15 SOG and six PIMs in 14 games played before his waiving.
Lindstrom was dealt to Montreal in the offseason alongside a 2025 fourth-round pick for Jeff Petry but has struggled to find his footing in his first season with the Canadiens' and was placed on waivers Tuesday. The 25-year-old carries a $950,000 cap hit and had three goals, and assist, 15 SOG and six PIMs in 14 games played prior to his waiving.
Primeau will make his first start of 2024 on Wednesday when the Canadiens visit the Philadelphia Flyers. In his last outing, Primeau allowed four goals on 30 shots (.867 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Flyers have struggled lately, losing five of their last six (1-3-2) and are coming off a one-side 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday.
Heineman was reassigned to the Laval Rocket of the AHL last week but has been recalled by the Canadiens on an emergency basis. In 10 games with Laval, Heineman has six points (2G / 4A) and a -7 plus/minus rating.
Andersen has been battling an undisclosed injury after playing 15:18 time-on-ice on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars but will not miss any game action as he is expected to play on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. Anderson only has six goals through 37 games this season but has six points (5G / 1A) in his last eight.
