Laine appears to be nearing a return to the lineup but will miss a third straight contest on Monday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 26-year-old Laine has been impressive in his limited time with the Canadiens, scoring 10 points (8G / 2A) in 13 games despite averaging a career-low 14:51 time-on-ice.

The Canadiens played their last game with Jakub Dobes in their crease, an impressive 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Still, they will turn to Montembeault between the pipes on Monday against the Vancouver Canucks. Montembeault allowed four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. He has a 2.91 GAA and .900 SV% in 31 games this season (14-15-2). The Canadiens enter Monday's contest as +113 home underdogs against a Canucks squad coming off a 3-0 loss to the Nashville Predators.

Struble will fill in for David Savard, who is out with an undisclosed injury. Struble has two goals and three assists in 22 games this season, but has not played since December 12th.

Pezzetta will fill in for Patrik Laine, who was a surprise scratch due to an illness. Pezzetta has appeared in three games this season for the Habs and is yet to register a point.

Laine was a surprise scratch on Friday, with the team only announcing his absence minutes before warmups. We should get an update on his status ahead of Montreal's game in Colorado on Saturday.

Savard is battling an undisclosed injury and will miss Friday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks. He only played 15:40 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, his second-lowest ice time of the season. The 34-year-old defenseman has 10 points (1G / 9A), 90 blocks, and 31 hits in 35 games this season.

Savard is battling an undisclosed injury and could miss Friday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks. He only played 15:40 time-on-ice in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights, his second-lowest ice time of the season. The 34-year-old defenseman has 10 points (1G / 9A), 90 blocks, and 31 hits in 35 games this season.

The Canadiens have won three straight and will roll with Montembeault between the pipes on Friday against a Chicago Blackhawks club coming off a 6-2 loss in Tuesday's Winter Classic against the St. Louis Blues. Montembeault was solid in his most recent outing, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. The 28-year-old Montembeault has a 2.87 GAA and .902 SV% in 30 games this season (14-14-2).

The Canadiens have outscored their opposition 9-2 in their last two games (2-0-0) and will roll with Montembeault between the pipes on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. Montembeault was solid in his last outing, saving 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has a 2.90 GAA and .901 SV% in 29 games this season (13-14-2). The Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as sizeable +208 road underdogs.

Cayden Primeaeu is expected to be placed on waivers tomorrow, allowing Dobes to make his NHL debut on Saturday against the Florida Panthers. Dobes was a fifth-round pick, 136th overall, of the Canadiens in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old goalie, a product of Ohio State University, has a 2.44 GAA and .910 SV% in 14 games (9-3-1) with the Laval Rocket (AHL).

Just 10 games into his return from a preseason injury, Patrik Laine left Monday's game vs. Columbus with an upper-body injury. That said, Laine and the Canadiens seem to have avoided any serious damage as he was back at practice on Friday. Laine has been a spark of energy since joining the team 10 games ago, with eight goals and nine points.

Dobes was a fifth-round pick, 136th overall, of the Canadiens in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old goalie, a product of Ohio State University, has a 2.44 GAA and .910 SV% in 14 games (9-3-1) with the Laval Rocket (AHL).

Just 10 games into his return from a preseason injury, Patrik Laine left Monday's game vs. Columbus with an upper-body injury and did not provide any updates post-game on the extent of the injury. Montreal's next game is Saturday vs. Florida where a further update should be provided. Laine has been a spark of energy since joining the team 10 games ago, with eight goals and nine points.

Montembeault and the Canadiens have won three straight, outscoring their opposition 15-5, and will continue to roll with the hot netminder on Monday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 28-year-old Montembeault has a 2.85 GAA and .903 SV% in 27 appearances this season (12-13-2). The 28-year-old netminder has been excellent lately, posting a .929 SV% in his last three games (3-0-0). The Canadiens enter Monday's contest as +117 road underdogs against a Blue Jackets squad coming off a 5-4 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.