Xhekaj was the fourth-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old has 65 points (34G / 31A) in 63 games with the Brantford Bulldogs (OHL) this season.
The Canadiens have lost three straight and will turn to Montembault for the fourth time in the last six games. Montembault has allowed three or fewer goals in three of his last four but had an abysmal performance in his last outing, allowing four goals on 12 shots (.667 SV%) in a 4-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Canadiens enter action on Tuesday as +119 home underdogs against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Xhekaj has not played the last two games and will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder. The 23-year-old Xhekaj spent the first half of the season between the NHL and AHL but has been a fixture with the Canadiens for the last couple of months. He ends the season with 10 points (3G / 7A), 121 hits, and 49 blocks in 44 games.
Kahkonen has a 2.92 GAA and .918 SV% in five games (1-3-0) since joining the Devils ahead of the trade deadline. Akira Schmid has been recalled from the Utica Comets (AHL) as Kahkonen battles a lower-body injury.
Bolduc will dress on Thursday after sitting out Monday's game against the Oilers. Bolduc has two goals and two assists in 18 games this season.
Kahkonen will man the Devils' crease for the first time in four games and his fourth time since being acquired from San Jose at the trade deadline. The 27-year-old has played exceptionally better during his time with the Devils, as proven by his 1-2-0 record, 2.17 GAA and .934 SV% since being traded. He will head to New York to take on cross-town rivals in the Rangers, who have won five of their last six games and have the NHL's fourth-best powerplay this season (25.7%).
Carrier has not played since March 23rd, missing three games, but will draw back into the lineup on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins. Dante Fabbro will be a healthy scratch for the Predators.
Johnathan Kovacevic will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Guhle to return to the lineup after serving a one-game suspension. Before his suspension, Guhle had five points (1G / 4A) during a three-game point streak.
The Canadiens' three-game winning streak was snapped in their last outing, but they will turn to Montembeault between the pipes again on Tuesday. Montembeault has played well lately, allowing only three total goals in his last two games (1-1-0), including a strong performance in a losing effort in his last outing, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 3-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canadiens enter action as +200 home underdogs.
Del Gaizo returns to Milwaukee after a four-game stint with the Predators as Spencer Stastney is set to return from his upper-body injury. Del Gaizo has eight goals and 24 assists in 51 AHL games with the Admirals this season.
Marco Scandella replaced Bolduc on Monday, as the Blues went with an 11-forward, seven-defenseman formation. Bolduc has been a lineup-regular for the Blues over the last month and will return to the lineup on Thursday against the Calgary Flames. Bolduc has two points (0G / 2A) in his last six games.
