Montembeault saved all four shots he faced after entering Monday's exciting 7-5 victory over the Buffalo Sabres and was the goalie of record, recording the victory after relieving Cayden Primeau. The 28-year-old Montebeault has had an inconsistent 2024-25 season, recording a 3.42 GAA and .890 SV% in 12 games (4-7-1). Montembeault and the Canadiens will be heavily tested on Thursday, facing off against the Minnesota Wild and their top-10 offense, averaging 3.5 goals per game.

The Canadiens are riding a six-game losing skid and will turn to Primeau between the pipes for the first time since October 31st when he allowed six goals on 28 shots (.824 SV%) in a 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals. The 25-year-old Primeau has an ugly 4.38 GAA and .861 SV% in six games this season (1-2-1).

Condotta is an undrafted 27-year-old that made his professional debut in the 2021-22 season with the Laval Rocket (AHL). He has four games of NHL experience and has four points (0G / 4A) in nine games in the AHL this season.

The Canadiens are riding a four-game losing skid, their second of the season, and will turn to Montembeault between the pipes for the third consecutive game on Thursday against the New Jersey Devils. After starting the season exquisitely, saving 72 of 73 shots (.986 SV%) in his first two games (2-0-0), Montembeault has settled into an ugly 3.37 GAA and .898 SV% through nine games (3-5-1). The Canadiens will face off against a Devils squad with an 8-5-2 record that has scored 53 goals this season, third-most in the NHL.

Perreault was the 27th overall pick of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He has one NHL game under his belt but has spent most of his professional career in the AHL. He had two points (1G / 1A) in 13 games with the Laval Rocket (AHL) last season.

Kapanen was the 64th overall pick of the Canadiens in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 21-year-old Kapanen made his NHL debut this season, scoring two points (0G / 2A) in 12 games with the Canadiens.

Condotta is an undrafted 27-year-old that made his professional debut in the 2021-22 season with the Laval Rocket (AHL). He has four games of NHL experience and has four points (0G / 4A) in nine games in the AHL this season.

The Canadiens will turn to Montembeault between the pipes for a second consecutive contest as they aim to snap a three-game losing skid (0-3-0). After a superb start to the 2024-25 season, saving 72 of 73 shots (.986 SV%) in his first two games (2-0-0), Montembeault has struggled to tread water in his six since (1-5-0), allowing three or more goals four times, posting a .843 SV%. The Canadiens enter the action on Tuesday as +114 home underdogs against a Calgary Flames club that has lost five of their last six (1-5-0).

Barron played 10:52 in Thursday's loss in Washington and will come out of the lineup Saturday in Pittsburgh. Arber Xhekaj will draw back into the lineup to replace him.

Xhekaj was a healthy scratch for Thursday's game in Washington but he will replace Justin Barron in the lineup on Saturday. Xhekaj has no points and a minus-6 rating in eight games this season.

Montembeault was pulled after allowing five goals on 10 shots in the Canadiens' loss to the Kraken on Tuesday. Cayden Primeau struggled on Thursday, so the Canadiens will go back to Montembeault Saturday in Pittsburgh. Montembeault has had some ugly starts this season but still holds a 57.1 QualityStart% and comes into Saturday with a 3.67 GAA and .891 SV% in seven games.

The Canadiens had a disastrous 8-2 loss against the Seattle Kraken in their last outing and will rotate to Primeau in the crease on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. Primeau entered Tuesday's loss to Seattle in relief of Samuel Montembeault, allowing three goals on 13 shots (.769 SV%). That said, Primeau has been solid in his previous three outings (1-0-1), posting a .907 SV%. The Canadiens enter the action on Tuesday as +180 road underdogs against the Washington Capitals.

Xhekaj has played the last three games but will return to being a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. Through eight games this season, Xhekaj has seven blocks and 16 hits but an ugly -6 plus/minus.

Barron has not played since October 22nd, missing three games due to an upper-body injury, but will draw back into the lineup on Thursday. In 7 games played this season, Barrron has a goal and six PIMs.

Guhle has not played since October 17th, missing five games due to an upper-body injury, but will draw back into the lineup on Thursday. The 22-year-old defender was off to an excellent start to the season before his injury, scoring four points (1G / 3A) in five games.

Despite a productive five-game stint with the Canadiens, scoring three points (1G / 2A), Mailloux has been reassigned to the Laval Rocket of the AHL. The 21-year-old Mailloux was the 31st overall pick of the Canadiens in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

Guhle has missed five straight games due to an upper-body injury but is nearing a return to the Canadiens' lineup. The 22-year-old defenseman has had a strong start to the 2024-25 season, tallying four points (1G / 3A), 20 blocks, seven hits, and a +4 plus/minus rating in five games.

Barron has not played the last three games due to an upper-body injury but is nearing a return and will be traveling with the team. In 7 games played this season, Barrron has a goal and six PIMs.

After a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday with Cayden Primeau in net, the Canadiens will return to the services of Montembeault between the pipes. After a three-game stretch where he allowed three or more goals in each contest (0-3-0), posting an ugly .829 SV%, Montembeault was stellar in his last contest, saving 29 of 31 shots (.935 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. The Canadiens enter the action on Tuesday as +147 home underdogs against the Seattle Kraken.