After two seasons spent between the Rangers and Hartford (AHL), New York has traded Brett Berard to Montreal for William Trudeau. Bedard appeared in 13 games with the Rangers in 2025-26, but failed to pick up a point while collecting six PIMs. He is expected to compete for a bottom-six role in Montreal this upcoming season.
McKown made his NHL debut in the 2022-23 season, scoring two assists in 12 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but has spent all of his time since in the AHL. The undrafted 23-year-old forward scored 25 points (9G / 16A) last season in 63 games with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL).
The Canadiens will turn to Dobes between the pipes with their season on the line in Carolina on Friday. The 24-year-old netminder was once again outstanding in a losing effort in Game 4, turning away 40 of the 43 shots he faced in the 4-0 loss. Just as they've been all series, the Habs are sizable underdogs in a must-win Game 5, entering action at +200 on the money line.
For the first time this postseason, Dobes has lost two straight, but will look to rebound on Wednesday in Game Four. Despite being in a 2-1 series deficit, Dobes has remained reliable between the pipes, posting a 2.43 GAA and .914 SV%. The 25-year-old Czech goalie has a 2.50 GAA and .911 SV% through 17 outings this postseason (9-8). The Canadiens hope to even the series against the Carolina Hurricanes at 2-2, entering Game Four as +132 home underdogs.
For the first time this postseason, Dobes has lost two straight, but will look to rebound on Wednesday in Game Four. Despite being in a 2-1 series deficit, Dobes has remained reliable between the pipes, posting a 2.43 GAA and .914 SV%. The 25-year-old Czech goalie has a 2.50 GAA and .911 SV% through 17 outings this postseason (9-8). The Canadiens hope to even the series against the Carolina Hurricanes at 2-2, entering Game Four as +132 home underdogs.
Dobes allowed three goals on 26 shots in Game 2 on Saturday night, as the Hurricanes escaped with a 3-2 overtime victory and evened up the series. The 24-year-old netminder has started all 16 of Montreal's playoff games, posting a 9-7 record and a .909 SV%. Dobes and the Habs are yet to lose consecutive games this post-season, but they do enter the action tonight as slight home underdogs at +120 on the money line.
Joe Veleno will likely draw back into Montreal's lineup on Monday for Game Three, resulting in Kapanen being a healthy scratch. Kapanen has suited up in three consecutive games for Montreal, but has been used sparingly. He had a -2 plus/minus and two penalty minutes in the team's 3-2 overtime loss in Game Two.
Dobes was fantastic in Montreal's Game 1 victory over Carolina after he stopped 28 of 30 shots against (.929 SV%) on route to a 6-2 Canadiens victory. The 24-year-old has yet to lose back-to-back games in the playoffs despite starting all 15 games for Montreal. He currently has an impressive 9-6-0 record, 2.48 GAA and .911 SV% in the playoffs and will look to give Montreal a 2-0 series lead as they head to Raleigh on Saturday.
Dobes stopped 37 of 39 shots in the Canadiens' Game 7 win in Buffalo on Monday. It was Dobes' best performance of Round 2, where he finished with a 3.03 GAA and .897 SV% in seven games. In the first and second round combined, Dobes is 8-6-0 with a 2.52 GAA and .910 SV% in 14 games. Tonight he will start Game 1 in Carolina, a team he was 3-0-0 with a 2.67 GAA and .922 SV% against this season.
Xhekaj played in all seven games vs. the Sabres, but is expected to be replaced by Jayden Struble in the lineup for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Xhekaj has picked up one goal, one assist and 45 hits in 13 playoff games.
Kapanen played in the opening four games of the playoffs but has not appeared since, serving as a healthy scratch in each of the last nine games. The 22-year-old Kapanen played in all 82 regular season games, tallying 22 goals and 15 assists. Joe Veleno will sit in his place.
Despite a shaky performance in Game 6, the Canadiens will unsurprisingly roll with Dobes between the pipes for Monday's series-deciding game against the Sabres. Dobes will be looking for a repeat performance of his masterclass in Game 7 of the first round, when he stopped 28 of the 29 shots he faced and carried the Habs to a 2-1 victory over the Lightning. The Canadiens are the slightest of underdogs heading into Game 7, entering action at -105 on the money line.
Dobes allowed three goals on 36 shots in the Canadiens' 6-3 win in Buffalo in Game 5. The win moved Dobes to 3-2-0 with a 2.65 GAA and .901 SV% in the series and 7-5-0 with a 2.28 GAA and .914 SV% in the postseason. Montreal have a chance to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday, a game in which they are -170 home favourites.
The Canadiens will of course roll with Dobes between the pipes for a pivotal Game 5 matchup in their second-round series against the Sabres. Montreal fans' favourite netminder allowed three goals on 22 shots in Game 4, as the Habs suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat. Dobes and the Canadiens enter Game 5 as the slightest of favourites at -105 on the money line.
The Canadiens will be hoping Dobes can maintain his red-hot form as they look to take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Sabres on Tuesday. The 24-year-old netminder was serenaded by the Habs' faithful after Game 3, and rightfully so. He allowed just two goals on 28 shots as Montreal cruised to a 6-2 victory. Dobes and the Canadiens enter Game 4 as slight favourites at -140 on the money line.
After stealing Game 7 over the Lightning, Dobes turned in his worst performance of the playoffs in the opening game of the second round. The 24-year-old netminder allowed four goals on just 16 shots as the Habs suffered a 4-2 defeat. The Canadiens and Dobes will be hoping to bounce-back in Game 2, as they enter action as very slight underdogs at +110 on the money line.
Dobes was the standout performer in a deciding Game 7 against the Lightning, as the Canadiens pulled off a 2-1 victory despite being outshot 29 to 9. Dobes' Game 7 heroics highlight what was a very impressive opening round series for the 24-year-old netminder. He posted a 4-1-2 record to go along with a 2.03 GAA and a .923 SV%. The Habs open up their second-round series against the Sabres as slight underdogs, as they enter action on Wednesday at +115 on the money line.
Jayden Struble will be a healthy scratch in Game One against the Buffalo Sabres, allowing Xhekaj to re-enter the lineup. The 21-year-old Xhekaj was the odd man out of the lineup to accommodate the return of Noah Dobson (upper body) in Game Seven against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but had been serviceable prior in the series, recording one assist and 31 hits in six games.
