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Montreal Canadiens News

Xhekaj will be a healthy scratch vs. Minnesota on Tuesday.

Jayden Struble will draw back into Montreal's lineup on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild, sending Xhekaj to the sidelines as a healthy scratch. The 24-year-old Xhekaj is averaging 11:37 time-on-ice, recording two points (1G / 1A) and 123 hits in 45 games this season.

Arber Xhekaj
Dobes will start vs. Minnesota on Tuesday.

Dobes has had a wildly inconsistent season, varying month to month. He had an elite 2.03 GAA and .930 SV% in six October games (6-0-0), which he followed up with a dreadful November, posting a 4.02 GAA and .849 SV% in seven games (2-3-2). The 24-year-old Czech goalie has been more reliable lately, with a 2.63 GAA and .890 SV% in nine games since the beginning of December (6-2-1). The Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as -126 home favorites against the Minnesota Wild, which defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-3 last night.

Jakub Dobes
Dach (fractured foot) has a chance to return vs. MIN on Tuesday.

Dach has not played in over two months, recovering from a fractured foot, but could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild. The 24-year-old Dach has struggled to live up to his third-overall selection in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, a struggle compounded by recurring injuries over the past few seasons. He has seven points (5G / 2A) in 15 games this season.

Kirby Dach
Fowler has been reassigned to Laval (AHL).

After some less-than-stellar performances, including allowing four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%) in yesterday's 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, Fowler has been reassigned to the Laval Rocket (AHL). The 21-year-old goalie started his NHL career in December with a solid 2.42 GAA and .918 SV% through five games (3-1-1), but has faltered since, losing four of five (1-3-1), with a 2.85 GAA and .881 SV%. The Canadiens will likely roll with their goaltending tandem from the start of the season, Sam Montembeault and Jakub Dobes.

Jacob Fowler
Fowler will start in Buffalo on Thursday.

The Canadiens will turn to a third different goalie on Thursday night as their three-headed goalie rotation continues, turning to Fowler against the Buffalo Sabres. The 21-year-old Fowler, in his first NHL season, has faced some ups and downs, but has a solid 2.46 GAA and .908 SV% through his first nine games (4-3-2). The Canadiens enter the action on Thursday as -122 road favorites against a Sabres team that defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2 yesterday, improving to 14-2-0 in their last 16 games.

Jacob Fowler
Fowler is expected to start in Buffalo on Thursday.

The Canadiens will turn to a third different goalie on Thursday night as their three-headed goalie rotation continues, turning to Fowler against the Buffalo Sabres. The 21-year-old Fowler, in his first NHL season, has faced some ups and downs, but has a solid 2.46 GAA and .908 SV% through his first nine games (4-3-2). The Canadiens enter the action on Thursday as -122 road favorites against a Sabres team that defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2 yesterday, improving to 14-2-0 in their last 16 games.

Jacob Fowler
Montreal has signed Alexandre Texier to a two-year contract extension worth $2.5 million AAV ($5M total).

Texier had his contract terminated by the St. Louis Blues earlier this season and immediately signed with the Canadiens, where he has impressed and earned himself a two-year extension. The 26-year-old French-born forward has 16 points (7G / 9A) in 25 games with Montreal this season.

Alexandre Texier
Anderson (upper-body) will play in Washington on Tuesday.

Anderson has not played in nearly two weeks because of an upper-body injury, but he will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals. The 31-year-old Anderson is averaging 14:47 time-on-ice, recording 13 points (9G / 4A), 48 penalty minutes, and 74 hits in 40 games this season.

Josh Anderson
Anderson (upper-body) will be a game-time decision vs. Washington on Tuesday.

Anderson has not played in nearly two weeks because of an upper-body injury, but he could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals. The 31-year-old Anderson is averaging 14:47 time-on-ice, recording 13 points (9G / 4A), 48 penalty minutes, and 74 hits in 40 games this season.

Josh Anderson
Montembeault will start Tuesday in Washington.

On the tail end of a back-to-back, the Canadiens will turn to Montembeault on Tuesday against the Washington Capitals. The 29-year-old Montembeault had a horrible start to the season, but has played well in limited action since returning from a conditioning assignment with Laval (AHL), posting a 2.34 GAA and .917 SV% in three games (3-0-0). Still, the Canadiens enter Tuesday's action as +126 road underdogs against a Capitals team that has lost four of its last six games (2-3-1).

Sam Montembeault