Primeau has roughly started every third or fourth game for the Canadiens over the last month and will continue that trend on Saturday when the Canadiens visit the Buffalo Sabres. Primeau last played on November 30th, allowing five goals on 29 shots (.828 SV%) in a 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers. The Canadiens have lost three of their last four (1-3-0) but defeated the Sabres in their only matchup this season, a 3-1 victory on October 23rd with Jake Allen between the pipes.

Laine was a late scratch on Tuesday due to illness and will not play again on Thursday as he did not travel with the team for the matchup against the New York Islanders. Laine is still playing well below his expectations but has started to right the ship with three points (2G / 1A) in his last four games. Kiril Marchenko and Adam Fantilli found themselves on the Blue Jackets' top powerplay unit in Laine's absence last game.

Armia is expected to exit the lineup and be a healthy scratch after playing four straight for the Canadiens, scoring two points (2G / 0A) and firing 11 shots on goal. Michael Pezzetta will draw back into the lineup to replace Armia.

Joel Armia is expected to be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Pezzetta to re-enter the Canadiens' lineup. Pezzetta has not played since November 25th and had only one point (0G / 1A) in his last eight games.

For the first time this season Montreal will go back to the same goalie it did the previous game as Samuel Montembeault takes the crease Thursday vs. Los Angeles. The 27-year-old has been the Canadiens' best goaltender by a long stretch due to his 6-3-1 record, 2.66 GAA and .913 SV%. He takes on the red hot Los Angeles Kings, who have won seven of their last eight games and are doing so while being second in the NHL in goals per game (3.86).

Laine was a surprise scratch for Tuesday's game with the Blue Jackets announcing his absence less than 30 minutes before puck drop. Laine's first chance to return to the lineup will be on Long Island on Thursday. He has five goals and two assists in 16 games this season.

Xhekaj has not played since November 16th and has been loaned to Laval (AHL) where he will get some game-action and conditioning before presumably returning to Montreal. In 17 games this season, Xhekaj has three points (1G / 2A), 47 penalty minutes, and 41 hits.

Montembeault has unquestionably been the strong netminder for the Canadiens this season and will get his first opportunity to tend the twine since signing a three-year, $9.45 million contract extension on Friday. In 10 games this season (5-3-1), Montembeault owns half of the Canadiens' 10 victories and is sporting an impressive 2.73 GAA and .910 SV%. Montembeault has been even more impressive lately, posting a 3-1-0 record and .929 SV% in his last five outings. The Canadiens are +134 home underdogs against a Seattle Kraken team that has lost four straight (0-3-1), scoring only seven goals in the process (1.75 GF / GP).

Newhook left the Canadiens' game Thursday vs. Florida in the third period after 15:14 TOI due to an undisclosed injury and was absent from practice Friday. The 22-year-old is expected to be evaluated after practice Friday and should have more updates. His first season in Montreal has gone well after an offseason deal from Colorado, with seven goals, six assists, 31 SOG, eight PIMs and a -5 plus/minus in 23 games prior to the injury.

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).

Primeau will start on Thursday for the Canadiens, the back end of a back-to-back, after Samuel Montembeault got the nod on Wednesday. Primeau played exceptionally in his most recent contest, saving 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks, but will be facing a significantly more challenging opponent in the Florida Panthers on Thursday. The Panthers rank in the bottom third of the league offensively (2.91 GF / GP) but will still be heavy road favourites against a Canadiens team that played and travelled the previous night.

Pezzetta has played five consecutive games for the Canadiens but will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Joel Armia to draw back into the lineup. Through 17 games this season, Pezzetta is averaging 7:48 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A).

Armia has not played since November 9th, a span of eight games, but will draw back into the lineup for the Canadiens on Wednesday in favour of Michael Pezzetta, who will be a healthy scratch. In six games this season, Armia has one point (1G / 0A) and eight shots while averaging 12:38 time-on-ice.

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.

Primeau will start for the fourth time this season and the first time since allowing six goals on 42 shots (.857 SV%) in a 6-5 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on November 16th. Primeau has had mixed results this season, posting a 3.97 GAA and .885 SV% through three games (1-2-0), but will get an opportunity to shine Friday afternoon against the low-scoring San Jose Sharks. The Sharks have scored one goal or fewer in 13 of their 19 games this season, ranking 32nd in the league offensively, scoring only 1.47 goals per game.

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.