Xhekaj has not played the last two games and will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder. The 23-year-old Xhekaj spent the first half of the season between the NHL and AHL but has been a fixture with the Canadiens for the last couple of months. He ends the season with 10 points (3G / 7A), 121 hits, and 49 blocks in 44 games.
The Canadiens have won four of their last five and will roll with Primeau in the crease for the third time in the last five games. Primeau has been excellent lately, allowing one or fewer goals in three of his last four (3-1-0), including saving 29 of 30 shots (.967 SV%) in his last outing, a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Carrier has not played since March 23rd, missing three games, but will draw back into the lineup on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins. Dante Fabbro will be a healthy scratch for the Predators.
Johnathan Kovacevic will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Guhle to return to the lineup after serving a one-game suspension. Before his suspension, Guhle had five points (1G / 4A) during a three-game point streak.
The Canadiens' three-game winning streak was snapped in their last outing, but they will turn to Montembeault between the pipes again on Tuesday. Montembeault has played well lately, allowing only three total goals in his last two games (1-1-0), including a strong performance in a losing effort in his last outing, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 3-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canadiens enter action as +200 home underdogs.
Dvorak will undergo surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle early in January and was originally expected to miss the remainder of the season. Before his injury, Dvorak had two points (2G / 0A) in his last 10 games, playing predominantly alongside Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky.
The Canadiens are riding a rare two-game winning streak, outscoring their opposition 7-2, and will turn to Primeau in net for the second time in the last three games. Primeau has allowed one or fewer goals in two of his last three starts (2-1-0), including saving 36 of 37 shots (.973 SV%) in his last outing, a 5-1 win over the Seattle Kraken. The Canadiens enter action as +138 home favourites against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Carrier was a late scratch on Tuesday, with the team not announcing his injury until the start of warmups. His absence makes way for the likely return of Jeremy Lauzon (lower-body).
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.
