After rumblings of a contract extension being in the works for several weeks, the two parties finally agreed on a three-year, $9.45 million contract. Montembeault has been a bright spot for the Canadiens this season, consistently putting up strong performances throughout the season thus far. Remarkably, seven of Montembeault's nine starts this season are quality starts (.778 QS%). He has a 2.73 GAA and .910 SV% along with a 5-3-1 record, totals considerably more impressive considering the Canadiens' 25th-ranked league defence (3.48 GA / GP).

Montembeault has been more than serviceable when called upon this season for a Canadiens team that ranks 30th in the league in terms of shot suppression (34.5 SA / GP). In his last four games (2-1-0), Montembeault has only allowed eight total goals, saving 105 of 133 shots (.929 SV%). Facing the Canadiens on Wednesday are the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are playing their best hockey of the season, winning three of their last four (3-1-0) and outscoring their opposition 16-9. The Canadiens have lost five of their last seven (2-5-0) and, as such, are +112 road underdogs against the suddenly hot Blue Jackets.

San Jose will continue to shuffle their goals as Kaapo Kahkonen makes his third start in five games Saturday vs. Vancouver. It has been yet another horrendous season in San Jose for the 27-year-old, who is 1-6-0 with a 4.30 GAA and .887 SV%. He takes on the offensive juggernauts that are the Vancouver Canucks, who have won two of their last three games and lead the NHL in goals per game (4.05).

Struble was Montreal's 2019 second-round pick (46th overall) and will make his NHL debut Wednesday in Anaheim. The 22-year-old defenseman had a goal, five assists, 29 PIMs, and a +4 plus/minus through 12 games with Laval (AHL) prior to his promotion to the big leagues and needed only 21 AHL games under his belt before making his NHL debut.

Montembeault will play for the first time since November 14th when he allowed two goals on 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames. Montembeault has consistently put together strong performances this season, recording quality starts in five of seven contests. Over his past three appearances (1-1-0), Montembeault has saved 75 of 80 shots (.938 SV%) and looks poised for another strong outing on Wednesday as the Canadiens take on an Anaheim Ducks team that has scored two or fewer goals in three straight games (0-3-0).

Blais was a healthy scratch on Sunday but will return to the lineup on Wednesday in favour of Jakub Vrana. Blais has five points (1G / 4A) in 16 games this season and is averaging 3.75 hits per game. He is expected to play on the Blues fourth line alongside Nikita Alexandrov and Oskar Sundqvist.

Kahkonen is coming off his first victory of the season, a heroic 44-save effort (.978 SV%) in a 5-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. Despite a horrendous 3.86 GAA, Kahkonen has an impressive 50% quality start rate through seven appearances this season (1-5-0). Expect another busy night for Kahkonen as the Sharks allow a league-worst 38.3 shots on goal per game and are +246 road favourites against a Seattle Kraken team that has points in four straight contests (2-0-2).

Laine was embarrassed by being a healthy scratched on Sunday by Blue Jackets' head coach Pascal Vincent, who will hope he sparked the Finnish sniper. Before his healthy scratch, Laine was held without a point in four straight games and only three points (2G / 1A) in nine contests this season. He will likely re-enter the Blue Jackets lineup playing on the wing of the second line with Dmitri Voronkov and Adam Fantilli.

With Arber Xhakaj (upper-body) being ruled out of at least the next three games for the Canadiens, the team has recalled Struble from the AHL. Struble was the Canadiens' 46th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and has six points (1G / 5A) in 12 games with the Laval Rocket this season.

Xhakaj did not play on Saturday and will not travel with the Canadiens on their upcoming California road trip, meaning he will miss at least three more games. Xhakaj has seen his ice time decrease significantly in recent games, averaging only 12:34 time-on-ice in his last six games after averaging 16:29 in his previous 10 games. He has three points (1G / 2A) in 19 games this season.

Xhekaj played only 10:19 before exiting the game with an upper-body injury and is now considered day-to-day after not practicing Friday. He has three points (1G / 2A) in 17 games this season along with 41 hits and 47 penalty minutes. Xhekaj's status will be re-evaluated on Friday.

Xhekaj played only 10:19 before exiting the game with an upper-body injury. He has three points (1G / 2A) in 17 games this season along with 41 hits and 47 penalty minutes. Xhekaj's status will be re-evaluated on Friday.

Del Gaizo had three assists, three SOG, two PIMs and a +2 plus/minus through five games this season to start his NHL career but has been reassigned to Milwaukee (AHL) Thursday. The 24-year-old returns to the Admirals, where he had an assist and two PIMs in five games prior to his promotion.

Kahkonen will start for the seventh time this season as he searches for his first victory. Paralleling most of the season from the San Jose Sharks, Kahkonen's play has not been NHL-caliber, posting an unsightly 4.44 GAA and .875 SV%. Expectations remain low for Kahkonen and the Sharks as they are +188 home underdogs against a St. Louis Blues team that is suddenly firing on all cylinders, winning five of their last six (5-1-0), outscoring their opposition 27-12.

Montembault has been a consistent bright spot on an up-and-down season for the Canadiens and will play his seventh game on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. Montembault has put together a stellar .911 SV% in his last five appearances, allowing only 13 goals in his last five appearances (2-1-1). The Canadiens are +148 home underdogs but are playing a Flames team that has lost two straight (0-1-1) and ranks sixth-worst among goal production in the league (2.64 GF / GP).