Montreal Canadiens News

Montreal can clinch a playoff berth with a win on Monday and will turn to Montembeault between the pipes against the Chicago Blackhawks. Montembeault has been excellent lately, helping the Canadiens push for the playoffs, posting a 2.01 GAA and .928 SV% since the beginning of April (4-1-0). The 28-year-old goalie has a 2.83 GAA and .901 SV% in 60 games this season (30-24-6). The Canadiens enter Monday's contest as sizeable -281 home favorites against a Blackhawks team that is 2-1-1 in their last four games.

With mega prospect Ivan Demidov making his NHL debut vs. Chicago on Monday, Michael Pezzetta finds himself the odd-man out of Montreal's lineup. The 27-year-old bruising winger has failed to put up a point in 25 games played this season, but has 24 PIMs and a -2 plus/minus while averaging just 5:56 TOI/GP.

Demidov was selected No.5 overall in last summer's NHL Draft and was fantastic in the KHL this season. The 19-year-old led St. Petersburg SKA with 49 points (19G / 30A) in 65 games. Demidov should make an instant impact in the Canadiens' middle-6 and should be added immediately in keeper/dynasty leagues.

A six-game winning streak has positioned the Canadiens into the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference and they will turn to Montembeault between the pipes on Friday against the Ottawa Senators. Montembeault was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 35 of 36 shots (.972 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The 28-year-old goalie has a 2.81 GAA and .901 SV% in 59 games this season (30-23-6).

Demidov was the fifth-overall pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday. The 19-year-old forward spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in the KHL, tallying 49 points (19G / 30A) in 65 games.

Savard did not play Montreal's previous game but he could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 34-year-old Savard is averaging 16:54 time-on-ice, recording 15 points (1G / 14A) and 173 blocks in 70 games this season.

With a win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, the Canadiens will be comfortably sitting in the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Montembeault will be tending the twine for the Canadiens, looking to build on his 2.85 GAA and .900 SV% in 58 games this season (29-23-6). The 28-year-old goalie has been excellent lately, posting a stellar 1.75 GAA and .926 SV% in his last four games (4-0-0). The Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as -132 home favorites against a Red Wings team with points in four straight games (3-0-1).

Thorpe was a fifth-round pick, 130th overall, of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old forward has 52 pints (27G / 25A) in 68 games with the Vancouver Giants (WHL) this season.

Fowler was a third-round pick, 69th overall, of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old goalie has spent the previous two seasons playing collegiate hockey with Boston College and posted a stellar 1.63 GAA and .940 SV% in 35 games (25-7-2) in 2024-25.

The Canadiens are desperately hanging on to the final Wild Card position in the Eastern Conference and will be desperate for a win Thursday against the Boston Bruins. Montembeault has played well lately, allowing only two goals in his last two contests (2-0-0) and posting a .925 SV%. The 28-year-old goalie has a 2.90 GAA and .899 SV% in 56 games this season (27-23-6). The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as -198 home favorites against a Bruins team that has lost six straight games in regulation.

Kapanen played 12 games with the Canadiens earlier this season, scoring two points (0G / 2A), before being loaned to Timra IK (SHL). The 21-year-old was impressive with Timra IK, scoring 35 points (15G / 20A) in 36 games.