Struble will take a seat on Friday as the Habs are opting to shake up their lineup given the 2-0 series deficit. Arber Xhekaj will draw into the lineup in his place.

Xhekaj will slot in on Friday as the Habs look to add a more physical presence to their Game 3 lineup. Jayden Struble will sit in his place.

Kapanen will slot in for Patrik Laine, who was a surprise scratch due to an upper-body injury. Kapanen will skate with Joel Armia and Emil Heineman on the Habs' fourth line.

Despite facing a 2-0 series deficit, the Canadiens will unsurprisingly stick with Montembeault between the pipes for Game 3 on Friday. Though he's yet to come away with a victory, Montembeault has arguably been Montreal's star performer through the first two games of the series. The 28-year-old netminder has allowed just five goals on 63 shots, resulting in a .921 SV% and a 2.49 GAA. If he is able to maintain this level of play, then a little bit more goal support in Game 3 should be all Monteambeault needs to guide the Habs to their first win of the series.

Laine was a surprise scratch on Friday, with the Habs not announcing his absence prior to warmups. The team added he is considered day-to-day with the injury. Oliver Kapanen will take his spot in the lineup.

The Canadiens scored two goals in the third period in Game 1, sending the game to overtime, before falling short after Alex Ovechkin beat Montembeault for the game-winning goal. The 28-year-old Montembeault will return to the crease on Wednesday for Game 2. He saved 29 of 32 shots (.906 SV%) in Monday's loss, his first career playoff appearance. The Canadiens enter Game 2 on Wednesday as +161 road underdogs against the Capitals as they hope to tie the series before heading to Montreal for Game 3.

The Canadiens will unsurprisingly turn to Montembeault between the pipes for Game 1 of their first round matchup against the Capitals. Montembeault was fantastic in Montreal's playoff clinching win over the Hurricanes on Wednesday, allowing just two goals on 31 shots. The 28-year-old netminder finished the regular season with a 31-24-7 record and a .901 SV%. Montembeault and the Habs enter the action on Monday at +150 on the money line.

With Emil Heineman returning from an upper-body injury, Kapanen will be a healthy scratch vs. Carolina. Kapanen appeared in six straight games, failing to record a point with just three SOG and a minus-1 rating.

Montreal can become the final team to clinch a playoff berth this season with a victory on Wednesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes. Montembeault will be tending the twine, looking to build on his 2.83 GAA and .901 SV% through 61 games this season (30-24-7). The 28-year-old Montembeault has done his part to help the Canadiens late in the season, posting a solid 2.14 GAA and .921 SV% through six games in April (4-1-1). The Canadiens enter Wednesday's contest as -118 home favorites against a Hurricanes team that has lost five of their last six games (1-4-1).

Heineman has missed the last five games with an upper-body injury but will play Wednesday vs. the Hurricanes. Heineman will be a welcome addition to the Canadiens' bottom-six in a pivotal game for their playoff hopes. Heineman has 10 goals and eight assists (18 points) in 61 games this season.

Montreal can clinch a playoff berth with a win on Monday and will turn to Montembeault between the pipes against the Chicago Blackhawks. Montembeault has been excellent lately, helping the Canadiens push for the playoffs, posting a 2.01 GAA and .928 SV% since the beginning of April (4-1-0). The 28-year-old goalie has a 2.83 GAA and .901 SV% in 60 games this season (30-24-6). The Canadiens enter Monday's contest as sizeable -281 home favorites against a Blackhawks team that is 2-1-1 in their last four games.

With mega prospect Ivan Demidov making his NHL debut vs. Chicago on Monday, Michael Pezzetta finds himself the odd-man out of Montreal's lineup. The 27-year-old bruising winger has failed to put up a point in 25 games played this season, but has 24 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus while averaging just 5:56 TOI/GP.

Demidov was selected No.5 overall in last summer's NHL Draft and was fantastic in the KHL this season. The 19-year-old led St. Petersburg SKA with 49 points (19G / 30A) in 65 games. Demidov should make an instant impact in the Canadiens' middle-6 and should be added immediately in keeper/dynasty leagues.

A six-game winning streak has positioned the Canadiens into the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference and they will turn to Montembeault between the pipes on Friday against the Ottawa Senators. Montembeault was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 35 of 36 shots (.972 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The 28-year-old goalie has a 2.81 GAA and .901 SV% in 59 games this season (30-23-6).

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.

Savard did not play Montreal's previous game but he could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 34-year-old Savard is averaging 16:54 time-on-ice, recording 15 points (1G / 14A) and 173 blocks in 70 games this season.

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.