Harvey-Pinard has not played since February 10th due to a lower-body injury but appears to be nearing a return to the Canadiens lineup. The 25-year-old has seven points (1G / 6A), 20 hits, and 27 blocks in 24 games this season.
Primeau will return to the crease on Saturday, his first start in four games for the Canadiens. In his last outing, Primeau allowed three goals on 26 shots (.885 SV%) in a 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Primeau and the Canadiens will visit the Tampa Bay Lightning, who defeated them 4-3 in their last meeting on December 31st.
Monteumbeault tended the twine on Tuesday when the Canadiens snapped their five-game losing skid with a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes. The 27-year-old Montembeault was tremendous, saving 36 of 38 shots (.947 SV%) for his first victory in his last four outings (1-3-0). The Canadiens will be hard-pressed to continue their winning ways on Thursday when they visit a Florida Panthers team that defeated them 4-1 in their last meeting two months ago.
The Canadiens are riding a five-game losing skid and will look for Montembeault to help them re-enter the win column on Tuesday. Montembeault has allowed three or more goals in five of his last six (2-4-0), including allowing more than seven in two contests. That said, Montembeault and the Canadiens will be facing an Arizona Coyotes club amid a miserable 12-game losing streak.
In seven games with Montreal, Gignac had one point (1G / 0A), six shots, and seven hits. Most of his 2023-24 campaign has been spent with the Laval Rocket of the AHL, where he has been extremely productive, scoring 42 points (14G / 28A) in 43 games.
Barre-Boulet has been a healthy scratch most of the season for Tampa Bay but suddenly played in four of the last seven games. In his last outing, Barre-Boulet played 7:42 time-on-ice, recording one shot and three hits.
In seven games with Montreal, Gignac has one point (1G / 0A), six shots, and seven hits. Most of his 2023-24 campaign has been spent with the Laval Rocket of the AHL, where he has been extremely productive, scoring 42 points (14G / 28A) in 43 games.
The Canadiens have struggled to keep the puck out of their net lately. Coincidently, their only win in the last six games is the only time they've allowed fewer than three goals and the only time Primeau has played in that span, a 13-save shutout in a 5-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on February 14th. The Canadiens enter action as sizeable +224 road underdogs against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night.
Urho Vaakanainen will replace Lindstrom, who will be a healthy scratch for the third time in the last seven games. Lindstrom has five points (3G / 2A), 20 hits, and 32 blocks in 23 games this season.
Jesse Ylönen will draw back into the lineup on Wednesday, resulting in Pezzetta being a healthy scratch. Pezzetta has played in 22 straight games for the Canadiens, tallying seven points (1G / 6A) in the process.
After an otherwise impressive season, Montembeault has struggled lately and has been limited to only one start in the last four games for the Canadiens. The 27-year-old Montembeault has allowed a disastrous seven or more goals in two of his last five outings (2-3-0), including seven goals allowed on 31 shots (.774 SV%) in his last contest, a 7-4 loss to the New York Rangers. The Canadiens enter action as +122 home underdogs against a Buffalo Sabres club coming off a 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks.
Barre-Boulet has been a healthy scratch most of the season for Tampa Bay but has suddenly drawn into the lineup in four of the last seven games. In his last outing, Barre-Boulet played 5:28 time-on-ice and recorded one shot on goal.
Lindstrom will draw into the lineup in place of Jackson Lacombe, who is listed as a scratch on Thursday. Lindstrom will skate alongside Cam Fowler on the team's first defensive pair.
Barre-Boulet has been a healthy scratch for the Lightning most of this season but will draw into the lineup for the second time in the past three games on Thursday night. In his last outing, Barre-Boulet played 11:50 time-on-ice, registering one hit.