Xhekaj has played the last three games but will return to being a healthy scratch on Thursday against the Washington Capitals. Through eight games this season, Xhekaj has seven blocks and 16 hits but an ugly -6 plus/minus.
Guhle has not played since October 17th, missing five games due to an upper-body injury, but will draw back into the lineup on Thursday. The 22-year-old defender was off to an excellent start to the season before his injury, scoring four points (1G / 3A) in five games.
Despite a productive five-game stint with the Canadiens, scoring three points (1G / 2A), Mailloux has been reassigned to the Laval Rocket of the AHL. The 21-year-old Mailloux was the 31st overall pick of the Canadiens in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Guhle has missed five straight games due to an upper-body injury but is nearing a return to the Canadiens' lineup. The 22-year-old defenseman has had a strong start to the 2024-25 season, tallying four points (1G / 3A), 20 blocks, seven hits, and a +4 plus/minus rating in five games.
After a 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday with Cayden Primeau in net, the Canadiens will return to the services of Montembeault between the pipes. After a three-game stretch where he allowed three or more goals in each contest (0-3-0), posting an ugly .829 SV%, Montembeault was stellar in his last contest, saving 29 of 31 shots (.935 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the St. Louis Blues. The Canadiens enter the action on Tuesday as +147 home underdogs against the Seattle Kraken.
Pezzetta being a healthy scratch on Tuesday likely indicates that Juraj Slafkovsky (shoulder) will make his return to the lineup from a three-game absence. The 26-year-old Pezzetta has zero point in three games with the Canadiens this season.
Slafkovsky has missed the last three games due to a upper-body injury but was a full participant at the Canadiens' morning skate on Tuesday and could return to the lineup in the evening against the Seattle Kraken. The third-year Slovak forward was off to an impressive start this season, with six points (1G / 5A) in six games.
After a two-game absence, Xhekaj will draw back into the Canadiens' lineup on Saturday against the St. Louis Blues. In five games this season, Xhekaj has zero points, a -4 plus/minus, and 10 hits.
On the tail end of a back-to-back, the Canadiens will turn to Primeau between the pipes on Sunday against the Philadelphia Flyers. Despite allowing six combined goals in his last two outings (0-0-1), Primeau has been solid in limited action for the Canadiens lately, posting a .915 SV%. The Canadiens enter the action on Sunday as +146 road underdogs against the Flyers.
On the front end of a back-to-back, the Canadiens will turn to Montembeault between the pipes for the fifth time in the last six games. After a fabulous start to the season, saving 72 of 73 shots (.986 SV%) in his first two contests (2-0-0), Montembeault has lost three straight (0-3-0), allowing three or more goals in each while posting an ugly .829 SV%. The Canadiens will host a St. Louis Blues club averaging 3.0 goals per game.
With Juraj Slafkovsky (upper body) out for at least a week, Pezzetta will make his season debut on Tuesday against the New York Rangers. The 26-year-old Pezzetta was a regular in the lineup for the Canadiens last season, tallying 12 points (3G / 9A) in 61 games.
Slafkovsky has been battling a shoulder injury since last week. He was a game-time decision on Saturday but managed to play and recorded two points (0G / 2A), one shot, and four hits while playing 15:57 time-on-ice. This ongoing shoulder issue continues to be an impairment for Slafkovsky, who will be shut down for at least the next week before being reevaluated.
The Canadiens are riding a three-game losing skid (0-2-1), being outscored 14-7, and will attempt to return to the win column on Tuesday with Montembeault between the pipes. The 27-year-old Montembeault was sensational to start the 2024-25 season, saving 72 of 73 shots (.986 SV%) in his first two games (2-0-0), before losing his next two outings (0-2-0), falling drastically to a .867 SV% in those two games. The Canadiens will host a New York Rangers team that has yet to lose in regulation (4-0-1).
Slafkovsky has been battling a shoulder injury since last week. He was a game-time decision on Saturday but managed to play and recorded two points (0G / 2A), one shot, and four hits while playing 15:57 time-on-ice. This ongoing shoulder issue continues to be an impairment for Slafkovsky, whose status is uncertain for Tuesday's contest against the New York Rangers.
