Montreal Canadiens News

Laine was embarrassed by being a healthy scratched on Sunday by Blue Jackets' head coach Pascal Vincent, who will hope he sparked the Finnish sniper. Before his healthy scratch, Laine was held without a point in four straight games and only three points (2G / 1A) in nine contests this season. He will likely re-enter the Blue Jackets lineup playing on the wing of the second line with Dmitri Voronkov and Adam Fantilli.

With Arber Xhakaj (upper-body) being ruled out of at least the next three games for the Canadiens, the team has recalled Struble from the AHL. Struble was the Canadiens' 46th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and has six points (1G / 5A) in 12 games with the Laval Rocket this season.

Xhakaj did not play on Saturday and will not travel with the Canadiens on their upcoming California road trip, meaning he will miss at least three more games. Xhakaj has seen his ice time decrease significantly in recent games, averaging only 12:34 time-on-ice in his last six games after averaging 16:29 in his previous 10 games. He has three points (1G / 2A) in 19 games this season.

Xhekaj played only 10:19 before exiting the game with an upper-body injury and is now considered day-to-day after not practicing Friday. He has three points (1G / 2A) in 17 games this season along with 41 hits and 47 penalty minutes. Xhekaj's status will be re-evaluated on Friday.

Xhekaj played only 10:19 before exiting the game with an upper-body injury. He has three points (1G / 2A) in 17 games this season along with 41 hits and 47 penalty minutes. Xhekaj's status will be re-evaluated on Friday.

Del Gaizo had three assists, three SOG, two PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through five games this season to start his NHL career but has been reassigned to Milwaukee (AHL) Thursday. The 24-year-old returns to the Admirals, where he had an assist and two PIMs in five games prior to his promotion.

Kahkonen will start for the seventh time this season as he searches for his first victory. Paralleling most of the season from the San Jose Sharks, Kahkonen's play has not been NHL-caliber, posting an unsightly 4.44 GAA and .875 SV%. Expectations remain low for Kahkonen and the Sharks as they are +188 home underdogs against a St. Louis Blues team that is suddenly firing on all cylinders, winning five of their last six (5-1-0), outscoring their opposition 27-12.

Montembault has been a consistent bright spot on an up-and-down season for the Canadiens and will play his seventh game on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. Montembault has put together a stellar .911 SV% in his last five appearances, allowing only 13 goals in his last five appearances (2-1-1). The Canadiens are +148 home underdogs but are playing a Flames team that has lost two straight (0-1-1) and ranks sixth-worst among goal production in the league (2.64 GF / GP).

Laine has missed the last nine games after getting hurt on a hit by Rasmus Andersson. To make room for Laine, who will skate on a line with Boone Jenner and Johnny Gaudreau, the Blue Jackets sent David Jiricek back to the AHL.

Kahkonen has become the clear second-choice in San Jose, slated to start for only the second time in the teams' last seven games. Without a win (0-4-0) and a ghastly 4.30 GAA and .876 SV%, Kahkonen's outlook is not promising as the San Jose Sharks, playing the back end of a back-to-back, visit the Western-Conference leading Vegas Golden Knights. The last-place Sharks are currently on a two-game winning streak but, even so, are ginormous +426 road underdogs against the Golden Knights.