Demidov was the fifth-overall pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday. The 19-year-old forward spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in the KHL, tallying 49 points (19G / 30A) in 65 games.
With a win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, the Canadiens will be comfortably sitting in the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Montembeault will be tending the twine for the Canadiens, looking to build on his 2.85 GAA and .900 SV% in 58 games this season (29-23-6). The 28-year-old goalie has been excellent lately, posting a stellar 1.75 GAA and .926 SV% in his last four games (4-0-0). The Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as -132 home favorites against a Red Wings team with points in four straight games (3-0-1).
Thorpe was a fifth-round pick, 130th overall, of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old forward has 52 pints (27G / 25A) in 68 games with the Vancouver Giants (WHL) this season.
Fowler was a third-round pick, 69th overall, of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old goalie has spent the previous two seasons playing collegiate hockey with Boston College and posted a stellar 1.63 GAA and .940 SV% in 35 games (25-7-2) in 2024-25.
The Canadiens are desperately hanging on to the final Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference and will be desperate for a win Thursday against the Boston Bruins. Montembeault has played well lately, allowing only two goals in his last two contests (2-0-0) and posting a .925 SV%. The 28-year-old goalie has a 2.90 GAA and .899 SV% in 56 games this season (27-23-6). The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as -198 home favorites against a Bruins team that has lost six straight games in regulation.
Kapanen played 12 games with the Canadiens earlier this season, scoring two points (0G / 2A), before being loaned to Timra IK (SHL). The 21-year-old was impressive with Timra IK, scoring 35 points (15G / 20A) in 36 games.
The Canadiens are desperately fighting to secure a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference and will turn to Montembeault on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers. Montembeault was solid in an impressive 4-2 win over the Panthers on Sunday, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%). The 28-year-old goalie has a 2.91 GAA and .898 SV% in 55 games this season (26-23-6). Still, the Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as +159 home underdogs against a Panthers team that is 5-5-0 in their last 10 games.
With Kaiden Guhle back in the lineup on Friday, Roy will sit as a healthy scratch Friday in Carolina. Roy has scored two goals while skating in eight straight games with the Habs.
Guhle will return to the Canadiens lineup after missing the last 21 games. Guhle re-enters the lineup with four goals, 10 assists and a plus-2 rating in 44 games this season.
On the tail end of a back-to-back, a night after a disappointing 6-4 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, the Canadiens will turn to Montembeault between the pipes on Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 28-year-old Montembeault struggled in his previous outing, allowing five goals on 32 shots (.844 SV%) in a 6-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues. He has a 2.93 GAA and .898 SV% in 53 games this season (25-22-6). The Canadiens enter the action on Friday as +276 road underdogs against a Hurricanes club coming off a 3-1 loss to the Nashville Predators.
On the front end of a back-to-back, the Canadiens will turn to Dobes between the pipes on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 23-year-old Czech goalie's last start was on March 12th, when he allowed five goals on 35 shots (.857 SV%) in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken. He has a 2.75 GAA and .905 SV% in 13 games this season (6-3-2). The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as -119 road favorites against a Flyers club amid a six-game losing skid (0-5-1).
The Canadiens have points in six straight (3-0-3), continuing their push for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, and will turn to Montembeault between the pipes on Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. The 28-year-old Montembeault has a 2.88 GAA and .900 SV% in 52 games this season (25-21-6). That said, he has allowed four goals in two straight games (0-0-2).
