Montreal's goaltending trio will continue to shuffle as Samuel Montembeault takes the crease for the first time in three games Wednesday. The 27-year-old has been Montreal's best netminder of their three with his 6-4-1 record, .912 SV% and 2.78 GAA. He faces the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are on the second half of a back-to-back after a win over Arizona Tuesday and are ranked 23rd in the NHL in goals per game (2.93).

Alexandre Carrier (upper body) is expected to return to the Predators' lineup Saturday vs. Toronto.

Primeau has roughly started every third or fourth game for the Canadiens over the last month and will continue that trend on Saturday when the Canadiens visit the Buffalo Sabres. Primeau last played on November 30th, allowing five goals on 29 shots (.828 SV%) in a 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers. The Canadiens have lost three of their last four (1-3-0) but defeated the Sabres in their only matchup this season, a 3-1 victory on October 23rd with Jake Allen between the pipes.

Carrier will miss his fourth straight game with an upper-body injury but appears to be nearing a return after participating at practice on Thursday. Before his injury, Carrier was a steadying presence on the Predators' blue line, averaging 18:08 time-on-ice and scoring eight points (1G / 7A) in 22 games.

Laine was a late scratch on Tuesday due to illness and will not play again on Thursday as he did not travel with the team for the matchup against the New York Islanders. Laine is still playing well below his expectations but has started to right the ship with three points (2G / 1A) in his last four games. Kiril Marchenko and Adam Fantilli found themselves on the Blue Jackets' top powerplay unit in Laine's absence last game.

Armia is expected to exit the lineup and be a healthy scratch after playing four straight for the Canadiens, scoring two points (2G / 0A) and firing 11 shots on goal. Michael Pezzetta will draw back into the lineup to replace Armia.

Joel Armia is expected to be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Pezzetta to re-enter the Canadiens' lineup. Pezzetta has not played since November 25th and had only one point (0G / 1A) in his last eight games.

For the first time this season Montreal will go back to the same goalie it did the previous game as Samuel Montembeault takes the crease Thursday vs. Los Angeles. The 27-year-old has been the Canadiens' best goaltender by a long stretch due to his 6-3-1 record, 2.66 GAA and .913 SV%. He takes on the red hot Los Angeles Kings, who have won seven of their last eight games and are doing so while being second in the NHL in goals per game (3.86).

Laine was a surprise scratch for Tuesday's game with the Blue Jackets announcing his absence less than 30 minutes before puck drop. Laine's first chance to return to the lineup will be on Long Island on Thursday. He has five goals and two assists in 16 games this season.

Xhekaj has not played since November 16th and has been loaned to Laval (AHL) where he will get some game-action and conditioning before presumably returning to Montreal. In 17 games this season, Xhekaj has three points (1G / 2A), 47 penalty minutes, and 41 hits.

Montembeault has unquestionably been the strong netminder for the Canadiens this season and will get his first opportunity to tend the twine since signing a three-year, $9.45 million contract extension on Friday. In 10 games this season (5-3-1), Montembeault owns half of the Canadiens' 10 victories and is sporting an impressive 2.73 GAA and .910 SV%. Montembeault has been even more impressive lately, posting a 3-1-0 record and .929 SV% in his last five outings. The Canadiens are +134 home underdogs against a Seattle Kraken team that has lost four straight (0-3-1), scoring only seven goals in the process (1.75 GF / GP).

Newhook left the Canadiens' game Thursday vs. Florida in the third period after 15:14 TOI due to an undisclosed injury and was absent from practice Friday. The 22-year-old is expected to be evaluated after practice Friday and should have more updates. His first season in Montreal has gone well after an offseason deal from Colorado, with seven goals, six assists, 31 SOG, eight PIMs and a -5 plus/minus in 23 games prior to the injury.