Del Gaizo has split time this season between Nashville and Milwaukee (AHL). The 25-year-old defenseman has already played a career-high 21 games with Nashville this season, scoring three points (0G / 3A).
The Canadiens have outscored the opposition 9-2 during a two-game winning streak and will roll with Montembeault between the pipes on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The 28-year-old Montembeault was tremendous in his previous outing, saving all 20 shots he faced, recording his fourth shutout of the season in an impressive 4-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. The 28-year-old Montembeault has a 2.90 GAA and .899 SV% in 44 games this season (20-21-3). The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as sizeable -210 home favorites against a Sharks club amid a six-game losing skid (0-4-2).
Dobson has not played since January 20th, missing 11 consecutive games due to a lower-body injury, but will likely draw back into the Islanders' lineup on Thursday against the Boston Bruins. The 25-year-old Dobson has 24 points (6G / 18A) in 46 games this season and will likely reclaim his role on the top powerplay unit, a spot temporarily occupied by Tony DeAngelo.
Beck has not played since before the break for the 4Nations Face-Off but he will return to Montreal's lineup on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 21-year-old Beck is averaging 9:45 time-on-ice and has yet to record a point through six games this season.
Montembeault was excellent in his return from the 4Nations Face Off, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. He returns to the crease on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 28-year-old Montembeault has a 2.97 GAA and .897 SV% through 43 games this season (19-21-3).
The Jets opted to give Connor Hellebuyck some extra rest of the weekend, but he is expected to return to the crease on Monday, resulting in Kahkonen returning to the Manitoba Moose (AHL). The 28-year-old Kahkonen has a 3.34 GAA and .885 SV in 20 games with Manitoba this season (6-13-0).
With Connor Hellebuyck remaining out due to rest from the Four Nations Tournament, Kaapo Kahkonen has been recalled from Manitoba (AHL) and is expected to back up Eric Comrie on Saturday. Kahkonen is expected to be returned to the minors once Hellebuyck returns to the team in Winnipeg on Monday.
Montembeault was a member of the winning Canadian team at the 4-Nations Face Off but served as the team's third goaltender and did not play, making him well rested for Saturday's contest against the Ottawa Senators. The 28-year-old Montembeault has a 3.00 GAA, .897 SV%, and three shutouts in 42 appearances this season (18-21-3).
Reinbacher underwent knee surgery after suffering a knee injury in a preseason game in September and has been sidelined since. He was originally given an early-March timeline and appears on track to begin his 2024-25 campaign in the AHL with the Laval Rocket. The 20-year-old blueliner appeared in 11 AHL games a season ago, scoring two goals with three assists.
On the tail end of a back-to-back, Dobes will be between the pipes for the Canadiens on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the final game before the two-week hiatus to accommodate the 4 Nations Face-Off. After a brilliant start to the young 23-year-old Czech netminder's NHL career, winning his first five games and posting a .941 SV%, Dobes has lost three straight (0-2-1) and posted a .887 SV%.
On the front end of a back-to-back, the Canadiens will turn to Montembeault between the pipes on Saturday against a New Jersey Devils squad that has scored three or fewer goals in four of their last five games (2-3-0). The 28-year-old Montembeault was serviceable in his most recent outing, saving 27 of 30 shots (.900 SV%) in a 4-3 win over the San Jose Sharks. He has a 2.99 GAA and .898 SV% in 40 games this season (18-19-3).
Struble will take a seat on Wednesday as the Habs opt to get some fresh legs into the lineup for the tail-end of their back-to-back. Logan Mailloux will draw into the lineup in his place.
The Canadiens will turn to Dobes between the pipes when they travel to Los Angeles on the tail-end of a back-to-back on Wednesday. Dobes was tagged with the first regulation loss of his young career in his last start, allowing three goals on 26 shots in a 4-0 loss to the Wild on Thursday. The rookie netminder owns a 5-1-1 record and a .927 SV% on the season. He could have a hard time getting back in the win column on Wednesday as the Habs enter action at +200 on the money line.
Beck will appear in just his third NHL game this season, slotting in for Michael Pezzetta. Beck is yet to register his first career NHL point. He has 11 goals and 16 assists in 41 AHL games this season.
Beck was the 33rd overall pick of the Canadiens in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old made his NHL debut in the 2022-23 season, playing one game, but has exclusively played in the minor leagues since. He has 27 points (11G / 16A) in 41 games with the Laval Rocket (AHL) this season.
The Canadiens have lost five straight and (0-4-1) and will turn to Montembeault between the pipes on Tuesday's against the San Jose Sharks. Montembeault allowed three goals on 22 shots (.864 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 3-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks. The 28-year-old netminder has a 2.99 GAA and .898 SV% in 39 games this season (17-19-3). The Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as -167 road favorites against a Sharks club that just traded their leading scorer, Mikael Granlund, to the Dallas Stars.
