Gallagher was handed a match penalty for an illegal check to the head of New York's Adama Pelech and was suspended for five games Friday after having an over the phone hearing. The 31-year-old's frustration boiled over as he is in the midst of another disappointing season with only eight goals, eight assists 103 SOG, 47 PIMs and a -21 plus/minus in 48 games played this season.
The Sharks' goaltending revolving door will continue Saturday as Kaapo Kahkonen will get the start vs. Buffalo after backing up in San Jose's previous game. The 27-year-old has played very well despite the roster in front of him, which has led to an unfortunate 6-13-1 record, 3.56 GAA and .902 SV%. He'll take on the Sabres at home Saturday, who just snapped a two-game losing streak with a victory over Los Angeles last game and are 23rd in the NHL in goals per game (2.94).
Condotta will enter the lineup in place of the scratched Jesse Ylonen, and will centre the fourth line. Condotta scored one goal in his only NHL game to date.
Montembault had the night off in the Canadiens' previous contest, getting a chance to regroup after a forgettable performance in his last outing. Montembault allowed eight goals on 30 shots (.733 SV%) in a 9-4 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday, far and away his worst performance in an otherwise serviceable 2023-24 campaign. The Canadiens have dropped three straight (0-3-0), being outscored 19-7, and are +132 home underdogs against the New York Islanders, who are 3-6-1 in their last 10.
Montembault had the night off in the Canadiens' previous contest, getting a chance to regroup after a forgettable performance in his last outing. Montembault allowed eight goals on 30 shots (.733 SV%) in a 9-4 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday, far and away his worst performance in an otherwise serviceable 2023-24 campaign. The Canadiens have dropped three straight (0-3-0), being outscored 19-7, and are +132 home underdogs against the New York Islanders, who are 3-6-1 in their last 10.
Roy made his NHL debut earlier this month and played six straight games, recording two points (1G / 1A). The 20-year-old was selected in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL draft and has excelled in his first year as a pro, picking up 30 points (12G / 18A) in his first 34 AHL games, good for second on the team.
Adam Gaudette will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Blais to return to the Blues' lineup after a two-game absence. Blais has been held off the scoresheet in seven straight but has registered 16 hits in that stretch.
Xhekaj played 17 games with the Canadiens earlier this season but has been with the Laval Rocket (AHL) since November. Xhekaj has three points (1G / 2A) and should continue to build on the 2.41 hits per game he is averaging thus far.
The Sharks will turn to back to Kahkonen on Monday after Mackenzie Blackwood got the call in each of their previous two games. Kahkonen allowed just two goals on 34 shots his last time out but was still saddled with the loss as the Sharks were shutout by the Sabres. He has lost seven straight decisions in regulation, despite posting an admirable .908 SV% over that span. He'll have a hard time breaking that streak on Monday with the Sharks being +310 underdogs against the Kings.
Xhekaj spent just over two months with Laval (AHL) but has earned his call up back to Montreal after scoring three goals, 11 points, 34 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus in 17 games with the Rocket this season. The 22-year-old tough guy returns to the Canadiens, where he appeared in 17 games prior to being sent down and had a goal and two assists to go along with 47 PIMs.
Montembeault will start for the third straight game and for the sixth time in the last eight for the Canadiens on Wednesday. Montembeault was heroic in a losing effort on Saturday, nearly willing his team to victory over the high-octane Edmonton Oilers, saving 39 of 41 shots (.951 SV%) in a 2-1 loss. He has a 2-2-0 record in his last four, allowing three or fewer goals in each contest.
Kahkonen hasn't played since allowing four goals on 20 shots (.800 SV%) in a 7-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs last week, his only start in the last five for the Sharks. He will return to the crease on Monday afternoon as the Sharks are +228 road underdogs against a Buffalo Sabres team that was shutout 1-0 against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.
It's unclear when Anderson picked up the injury, but he will be unavailable for Saturday's game vs. the Oilers. The Canadiens recalled Joshua Roy on Friday, so he could make his NHL debut in Anderson's spot.
Roy was selected in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL draft and has excelled in his first year as a pro, picking up 30 points (12G / 18A) in his first 34 AHL games, good for second on the team. The 20-year-old could make his NHL debut Saturday vs. the Oilers.
Montembeault will be back between the pipes on Thursday as the Canadiens host the Sharks after Cayden Primeau got the nod on Wednesday in Philadelphia. Montembeault was excellent in his last start, surrendering just three goals on 48 shots as the Canadiens edged the Rangers in a 4-3 shootout victory on Saturday. The performance raised his SV% to .906 on the season to go along with his 9-5-3 record. He's got a great chance of staying in the win column on Thursday with the Habs being -165 favourites over the Sharks.
