Kahkonen will man the crease on Friday and attempt to stop the bleeding on a dreadful start to the 2023-24 campaign for the Sharks. Last night, with Mackenzie Blackwood in the net, the Sharks were blown out 6-0 by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Blackwood has seen action more consistently to start the season for the Sharks, but their 0-6-1 record indicates they don't have much chance regardless of who is in between the pipes. The Sharks are averaging an embarrassing league-worst 1.14 goals scored per game and as a result, are +357 road underdogs against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Guhle appears to be nearing a return but is still expected to be unavailable for the Canadiens Thursday night matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Guhle has one assist, a +4 plus/minus rating, and seven shots while averaging 15:35 time-on-ice through three games this season.

Montembault will start in goal for the first time since October 17th, an outing where he allowed five goals on 35 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. The Canadiens have had some inconsistent results this season but have still salvaged a 3-2-1 record despite being outscored 20-18. The Canadiens are -112 home favourites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that has had similar results this season, showcasing an identical 3-2-1 record while being outscored 19-17.

Montembault is expected to start for the first time since October 17th, an outing where he allowed five goals on 35 shots in a 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild. The Canadiens have had some inconsistent results this season but have still salvaged a 3-2-1 record despite being outscored 20-18. The Canadiens are -112 home favourites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that has had similar results this season, showcasing an identical 3-2-1 record while being outscored 19-17.

Laine was the target of Rasmus Andersson's high hit which led to a four-game suspension and has now been placed on the injured reserve with an upper-body injury. The 25-year-old has not played more than 56 games in a single season since 2019-20 and had a goal and an assist through four games thus far in 2023-24.

Laine took a late elbow to the head from Calgary's Rasmus Andersson in their 3-1 win Friday and will not travel with the team as they go to Minnesota on Saturday. The 25-year-old has had his career decimated by injuries as he not played more than 68 games in a season since 2018-19. Laine is considered day-to-day but will be continued to be evaluated.

After taking a backseat to Mackenzie Blackwood for the last two games and, despite him saving saving 87 of 94 shots, watching his Sharks go winless (0-1-1), Kahkonen will get the start on Thursday night against the Boston Bruins. In his only game this season, Kahkonen allowed four goals on 32 shots in a 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Sharks are +236 home underdogs against a Boston Bruins team that has yet to lose a game (2-0-0).

Dach and the Montreal Canadiens' worst fears were realized as it was confirmed he will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season with a torn ACL and MCL. Dach only had the opportunity to suit up twice this season, recording two points (0G / 2A), leaving before the completion of his second game. The 22-year-old has already battled a myriad of injuries in his young career. At least for the time being, newcomer Alex Newhook will presume the duties of second-line center for the Canadiens.

After a strong performance in his first game of the season, the Canadiens will turn to Montembault for his second consecutive start. Montembault is coming off a 28-save, 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Montembault quietly put up a respectable .901 SV% last season for a Canadiens squad that ranked fourth-worth defensively, giving up 3.72 goals per game. If Montembault can string together some more strong performances, he could be in line to take control of the starter's crease in Montreal. The Canadiens are +120 home underdogs against a Minnesota Wild team that is expected to be without Matt Boldy for the next several weeks.

The Canadiens received terrible news Monday morning as Dach is expected to be out indefinitely after suffering a lower-body injury in Saturday's matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 22-year-old center had two assists, three shots, and three hits in his first two games of the season. Alex Newhook is expected to replace Dach as the second-line center.

Montembeault will make his season debut for the Canadiens on Saturday against Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks. The 26-year-old Montembault is coming off the busiest season of his young career which saw him play in 40 games (16-19-3), recording a 3.42 GAA and .901 SV%. Montembault was fantastic in his only matchup against the Blackhawks last season, recording 30 saves in a 3-2 shootout victory.

Kahkonen struggled in 2022-23 as he was 9-20-7 with a 3.85 GAA and a .883 SV% but will draw the opening night start for San Jose as they host Vegas on Thursday. The 27-year-old is entering his fifth NHL season and will hope to help the Sharks finish outside the bottom three after they were 29th in the NHL in goals against last season (315). He takes on the Vegas Golden Knights, who are 1-0-0 after a 4-1 win over Seattle on opening night that saw them put 28 shots on goal.

On Monday, the Canadiens announced that Newhook was day-to-day, but head coach Martin St. Louis said that he is confident that Newhook will be ready for the start of the season. Newhook, who had 30 points (14G / 16A) in 82 games last year, was acquired from the Avalanche in the offseason. The 22-year-old is expected to open the season as a bottom-6 option for the Habs.

Veleno had nine goals, 11 assists, 30 PIMs, 85 SOG, and a -12 plus/minus through 81 games with the Red Wings in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $825,000 extension Wednesday. The 23-year-old was Detroit's 2018 first-round pick (30th overall) and has picked up 18 goals, 36 points, and 166 SOG through 152 career NHL games across three seasons.

Byron had 98 goals, 208 points, 139 PIMs, and a +31 plus/minus through 12 NHL seasons and 521 games played and officially retired from the NHL on Tuesday. The 34-year-old left-winger last played for Montreal in 2021-22 and had four goals, seven points, and only 33 SOG through 27 games before missing the majority of the year due to reoccurring hip issues.

Newhook had 14 goals 16 assists, 116 SOG, and 22 PIMs across 82 games played with Colorado in 2022-23 and has signed a four-year, $11.6 million contract ($2,900,000 AAV) with Montreal. The 22-year-old's rights were acquired by Montreal for a pair of early round draft picks and a prospect earlier in the month. The American centre was the Avalanche's 2019 first-round pick (16th overall) and has 27 goals and 66 points across 159 career NHL games.

Bezile had six goals, eight assists, 40 SOG, and 13 PIMs through 31 games with Montreal in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, two-way contract worth $1.55 million ($775,000 AAV) with the New York Rangers. The 31-year-old right-winger scored all six of his career goals last season but has nine assists as well through 45 career NHL games.