Bolduc was recalled on Tuesday and is expected to make his NHL debut on Thursday against the New York Islanders. The 20-year-old Bolduc was drafted 17th overall by the Blues in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Bolduc has 23 points (8G / 15A) in 48 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) this season.
After an otherwise impressive season, Montembeault has struggled lately and has been limited to only one start in the last four games for the Canadiens. The 27-year-old Montembeault has allowed a disastrous seven or more goals in two of his last five outings (2-3-0), including seven goals allowed on 31 shots (.774 SV%) in his last contest, a 7-4 loss to the New York Rangers. The Canadiens enter action as +122 home underdogs against a Buffalo Sabres club coming off a 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
Bolduc was recalled on Tuesday and is expected to make his NHL debut on Thursday against the New York Islanders. The 20-year-old Bolduc was drafted 17th overall by the Blues in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. Bolduc has 23 points (8G / 15A) in 48 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) this season.
The New York Rangers will continue to dip into their wealth of minor talent as they called up their eighth forward of the season from Hartford (AHL) in Alex Belzile on Wednesday. The 32-year-old winger last appeared in the NHL in 2022-23 with Montreal where he had 14 points (6G/8A) in 31 games. He will serve as a 13th forward for the time being for the Rangers.
Gallagher was handed a match penalty for an illegal check to the head of New York's Adama Pelech on January 25th and was suspended for five games. The 31-year-old's frustration boiled over as he is in the midst of another disappointing season with only eight goals, eight assists 103 SOG, 47 PIMs and a -21 plus/minus in 48 games played this season.
Despite Cayden Primeau posting a shutout in a 5-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, snapping a two-game losing skid, the Canadiens will turn back to Montembeault between the pipes on Thursday night. Montembeault played well in his last outing, saving 35 of 38 shots (.921 SV%), but came up short as the Canadiens fell 3-2 to the Dallas Stars. The 27-year-old Montembeault has held the opposition to three or fewer goals in his last three games (2-1-0), posting a stellar .935 SV%.
Kahkonen will tend the twine on Wednesday when the Sharks play their first game in two weeks. The 27-year-old Kahkonen played well in the Sharks last contest on January 31st, allowing three goals on 34 shots (.912 SV%) in a 3-2 losing effort in overtime. The low-scoring Sharks (2.08 GF / GP) will be without leading scorer Tomas Hertl (knee) for the foreseeable future, adding to their scoring woes. The Sharks are significant +374 road underdogs against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night.
Guhle suffered an undisclosed injury in Sunday's 7-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues but seems no worse for wear, and will remain in the lineup on Tuesday. Guhle has 12 points (4G / 8A), 76 hits, and 134 blocks in 48 games this season.
Jordan Harris will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Xhekaj to re-enter the lineup. Xhekaj played 13:53 time-on-ice in his last outing, recording a -2 plus/minus, two shots, and two hits.
Condotta played the last three games for the Canadiens and was held without a point while firing four shots on goal. Condotta had 16 goals, 14 assists, 61 PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in 71 games with the Laval Rocket (AHL) last season. The 25-year-old joined the Canadiens as an undrafted free agent in 2021-22 after finishing school at UMass-Lowell (NCAA).
Newhook has been out of the lineup since November 30th with an ankle injury but is expected to return to the Canadiens' lineup on Saturday. The 23-year-old Newhook was playing well before his injury, scoring 13 points (7G / 6A) in 23 games, and could be in for an increase in offensive deployment after the departure of Sean Monahan.
Montembeault will start for the second straight game and look to extend his win streak to three when he tends the twine Saturday afternoon against the Dallas Stars. Montembeault was terrific in his last outing, saving 37 of 39 shots (.949 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals. The Canadiens defeated the Dallas Stars 4-3 last month when Montembeault saved 30 of 33 shots (.909 SV%).
Jordan Harris will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Xhekaj to re-enter the lineup. Xhekaj was a healthy scratch in the Canadiens last game before the All-Star break but was in the lineup for two straight before then, recording six penalty minutes, two shots, and four hits.
Montemeault will be the starter for the Canadiens in their first game since the All-Star break. After an abysmal performance in which he allowed eight goals on 30 shots (.733 SV%) in a 9-4 loss to the Boston Bruins, Montembeault responded by saving 43 of 46 (.935 SV%) in his last outing, a 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders. Montembeault will look to build on his last performance on Tuesday in a matchup against the third-worst offensive team in the league, the Washington Capitals (2.38 GF / GP).
