The Canadiens snapped a four-game losing skid on Sunday courtesy of a strong performance from Cayden Primeau but will return to Montembeault on Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche. Montembeault has lost six straight (0-3-3), allowing three or more goals five times, but has salvaged a respectable .901 SV%. The Canadiens enter action as significant +346 road underdogs.
The Canadiens have lost three straight and will turn to Montembeault to tend the twine for the second straight game on Thursday against the Vancouver Canucks. Montembeault has failed to record a victory in five straight, including his most recent outing when he allowed three goals on 32 shots (.906 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers. The Canadiens enter action as sizeable +228 road underdogs.
Roy played 12:21 time-on-ice in Montreal's 3-2 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers but suffered a lower-body injury and will be out indefinitely. The 20-year-old Roy has nine points (4G / 5A) in 23 games.
Johnathan Kovacevic will replace Struble on Tuesday night against the Edmonton Oilers. Struble had played five of the last six games for the Canadiens, averaging fewer than 15 minutes of ice time and being held off the scoresheet.
Tanner Pearson will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Pezzetta to re-enter the lineup. Pezzetta has only suited up twice in the last month, averaging fewer than seven minutes of ice time.
Montreal's goaltending carousel continues on Tuesday as Samuel Montembeault takes back the crease and looks to end a personal four-game losing streak. The 27-year-old netminder has played well despite Montreal providing limited offense this season, with his 13-12-6 record, 3.11 GAA and .905 SV%. He draws the difficult task of Edmonton on the road Tuesday, who have won seven of their last 10 games and currently sit fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.52).
Reinbacher was the fifth overall pick of the Canadiens in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and is set to make his professional North American debut after being reassigned to the Laval Rocket (AHL). The Austrian-born Reinbacher had 11 points (1G / 10A in 35 games with Kloten HC (NL) this season.
Struble will watch Thursday's game against the Boston Bruins from the pressbox as Jordan Harris will draw into the lineup as his replacement. Struble played the last four games for the Canadiens, averaging nearly 15 minutes time-on-ice, and recording 13 hits.
Colin White will draw into the lineup for the Canadiens on Thursday in favour of Pezzetta, who will be a healthy scratch. Pezzetta played the last two games, averaging under seven minutes per night while recording one shot and 11 hits.
The Canadiens won 3-0 on Tuesday, courtesy of a 41-save shutout from Cayden Primeau, but will return Montebeault between the pipes on Thursday. Montembeault has lost three straight, allowing three goals in each, including a 24-save performance (.889 SV%) in a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in his last outing. Montembeault last faced the Bruins on January 20th and had an abysmal outing, allowing eight goals on 30 shots (.733 SV%) in a 9-4 loss.
Primeau will make his first start since the Canadiens traded Jake Allen to the New Jersey Devils. Primeau should be in line for more action down the stretch as he shares the crease with Sam Montembeault. That said, Primeau has allowed three goals in back-to-back games, including a 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in his last outing on March 2nd.
Perreault was the 27th overall pick of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. He has one NHL game under his belt but has spent most of his professional career with the San Diego Gulls (AHL), including 31 games this season, scoring 18 points (7G / 11A).
Montembeault has not played the last two games for the Canadiens but will return to the crease on Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The 27-year-old Montembeault had a rough February but is trending in the right direction after posting a stellar .932 SV% over his last two games (1-0-1).
