Montembeault allowed two goals on 39 shots (.949 SV%) to snap a two-game losing streak with a win over Arizona in his last start. The 26-year-old has been far and away the better of the two Montreal goaltenders this season, with his 6-3-2 record, 2.89 GAA and .912 SV%. He will face the Florida Panthers, who are looking to snap their current three-game losing skid.
Gallagher has not played since Nov. 29th due to a lower-body injury but will be a game-time decision Thursday as the Canadiens take on the Panthers. The 30-year-old was having a slow start to his season prior to the injury, with only three goals and five assists with 51 SOG through 22 games.
Laine has nine goals, seven assists, 72 SOG and a -7 plus/minus through 20 games and will now be forced to miss time indefinitely as he deals with Covid. If Laine is forced to miss time it will be the third time this season he missed a chunk of time due to injury/illness.
Pezzetta missed the Canadiens' last two games as a healthy scratch but will draw back into the lineup Friday vs. Dallas. The 24-year-old has one goal, 19 SOG and 12 PIMs in 17 games in his bottom-six role.
Matheson returned for one game before it was announced Monday that he would be out indefinetly due to a lower-body injury. It is another tough blow for the 28-year-old who has been dealing with injuries all season, as he has a goal, six points and 24 SOG in his first ten games played with the Canadiens.
Carrier has not played since Dec. 10th due to an upper-body injury but will return a bit ahead of plans Monday after originally being considered week-to-week. The 26-year-old has one goal, 26 SOG and eight PIMs through 23 games prior to the injury and will lineup on a pair with Mattias Ekholm.
Evans has five assists, 28 SOG and nine PIMs playing in all 29 of Montreal's games this season but will be a healthy scratch Thursday as Rem Pitlick draws back into the lineup.
Pezzetta has played in the Canadiens' previous three games but will head to the press box yet again as a healthy scratch Thursday. The 24-year-old has a goal, 12 PIMs and 16 SOG while playing limited minutes in Montreal's bottom-six through 16 games this season.
Caufield left Monday's game vs. Calgary after just eight shifts and 8:05 TOI due to an upper-body injury but should return to the lineup Wednesday. The 21-year-old has been having a strong second full season, with 16 goals, 25 points, 96 SOG and a -3 plus/minus through 29 games so far this season.
Montembeault is coming off his worst start of the season where he allowed seven goals on 32 shots (.781 SV%) as he lost to Vancouver on Dec. 5th. The Canadiens' backup has otherwise been solid this season, posting a 5-2-2 record, 2.97 GAA and .908 SV%. He will face the Ottawa Senators, who have won their last two games and are sixth in the NHL in shots per game (33.9).
Savard has not played since Dec. 3rd and it was announced Tuesday that he will be week-to-week with an upper-body injury. The 32-year-old stay-at-home defenseman has a goal, seven assists, and 24 SOG across 24 games prior to his injury.
Carrier left the Predators' previous game vs. Ottawa after only 7:20 TOI and is now week-to-week with an upper-body injury. The 26-year-old has one goal, 26 SOG and eight PIMs through 23 games prior to the injury.
Gallagher will miss his third straight game with a lower-body injury on Monday and is expected to miss at least two weeks. Juraj Slafkovsky will continue to play a larger role while Gallagher is out.
With Savard unavailable for Monday's game in Vancouver, either Chris Wideman or Jordan Harris will draw into the Canadiens' lineup. Consider him questionable for tomorrow's game in Seattle as well.
