Montreal Canadiens News

Jakub Dobes had a breakout 2025-26 season, leading the Canadiens to an impressive playoff run, but his sluggish start to 2026-27 opened a door for Jacob Fowler. The 21-year-old Fowler saved 23 of 26 shots (.885 SV%) in his most recent game, a 4-3 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres. He has a 2.16 GAA and .900 SV% in four games this season (3-1-0). The Canadiens enter Friday's contest as -161 road favourites against a Chicago Blackhawks team coming off a 4-0 shutout loss to the Dallas Stars.

Suzuki played 21:03 time on ice in Montreal's previous game, a 4-3 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks, and scored two points (1G / 1A), but has been ruled out for the next several weeks with an upper-body injury. The Canadiens have been outscored 34-30 over nine games this season (4-3-2) and will be tested without their number-one center. The 27-year-old Suzuki is coming off a career-best 101-point season and started 2026-27 strong, with 12 points (5G / 7A) in nine games.

Beck played two games with Montreal earlier this season, but has yet to become a full-time player at the NHL level. The 22-year-old forward, the 33rd-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, has two points (1G / 1A) in five games with Laval (AHL) this season.

Beck made his season debut with Montreal last week, playing two games and averaging 7:23 time-on-ice. The 22-year-old forward was the 33rd-overall pick of the Canadiens in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

Reinbacher made his season debut with Montreal last week, playing 9:09 on ice and recording a -1 plus/minus. The 21-year-old defenseman was the fifth-overall pick of the Canadiens in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

Adam Engstrom will return to Montreal's lineup on Tuesday, and Reinbacher will be a healthy scratch. Reinbacher, the fifth-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, made his season debut in Montreal's previous game, playing 9:09 on ice and recording a -1 plus/minus.

David Reinbacher will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Engstrom to re-enter the lineup. The 22-year-old Engstrom is averaging 11:01 time-on-ice and has zero points in four games this season.

After a breakout 2025-26 season that continued with an impressive postseason run, Dobes has struggled early in 2026-27. The 25-year-old Czech goalie has allowed five or more goals in three of four games, giving Jacob Fowler more action in recent weeks. Dobes has an ugly 4.63 GAA and .842 SV% in four games (1-2-1). Still, the Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as significant -202 home favourites over a San Jose Sharks team coming off a 3-1 loss last night to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

After a breakout 2025-26 season that continued with an impressive postseason run, Dobes has struggled early in 2026-27. The 25-year-old Czech goalie has allowed five or more goals in three of four games, giving Jacob Fowler more action in recent weeks. Dobes has an ugly 4.63 GAA and .842 SV% in four games (1-2-1). Still, the Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as significant -202 home favourites over a San Jose Sharks team coming off a 3-1 loss last night to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Slafkovsky was not on the ice for Friday's practice session, but head coach Martin St. Louis said that he will play Saturday vs. the Sabres. Slafkovsky's absence was classified as a therapy day, so he should be available without limitation on Saturday. He enters play with just three points (1G / 2A) in seven games this season.

Kapanen, who has yet to play a game this season, was a full participant on Friday, a sign that he'll be ready to make his season debut soon. He skated as a placeholder for Juraj Slafkovsky in the session, so it doesn't look like he'll play Saturday vs. Buffalo, so expect him to get in a couple of practices fore returning to the lineup.

Xhekaj has been sidelined for the past week and will remain there for at least two more due to a lower-body injury. The 22-year-old Xhekaj is averaging 7:36 time-on-ice and has a -4 plus/minus in two games this season.

Matheson did not play on Tuesday and will miss at least one more game with a lower-body injury. The 32-year-old defenseman is averaging 24:09 time-on-ice and has one assist in five games this season. The Canadiens recalled defenseman David Reinbacher from Laval (AHL) in a corresponding move.

The Montreal Canadiens drafted Reinbacher fifth overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The promising young defenseman played two games with the Canadiens last season, recording an assist, but has otherwise played exclusively in the AHL. The 21-year-old scored 24 points (5G / 19A) in 57 games with Laval (AHL) last season.

Beck was recalled from Laval (AHL) earlier this week and will suit up for his season debut with the Canadiens on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 22-year-old forward played 15 games with Montreal last season, averaging 9:11 time-on-ice and scoring one goal.