Texier (upper body) will return to the lineup on Sunday.
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Montreal Canadiens News
Goalie Start
Fowler will start Sunday in Tampa.
Fowler has helped his team collect a point in all but one game since making his NHL debut earlier this month (3-1-1) and will return to the crease on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 21-year-old rookie has a 2.40 GAA and .918 SV%, and he dazzled in his last two games (2-0-0), allowing only two goals on 59 combined shots (.966 SV%).
Evans is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks with a lower-body injury.
Evans suffered a lower-body injury last Saturday vs. the Penguins and is expected to miss at least one month. The void left by Evans' injury has been filled by Phillip Danault, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Kings the day before Evans got hurt.
Texier (upper-body) will not return to Tuesday's game against the Bruins.
Engstrom will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday.
Engstrom falls right back out of the Habs lineup after slotting in on Saturday. Jayden Struble will skate in his place.
Struble will draw into the Canadiens lineup on Tuesday.
Struble will slot right back into the Habs lineup after serving as a healthy scratch on Saturday. Adam Engstrom will sit in his place.
Montreal has signed Bryce Pickford to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Pickford was drafted in the third round, 81st overall, by the Canadiens in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old defenseman is in his fourth WHL season and has 44 points (25G / 19A) through 31 games with the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Line Change
Danault will make his Canadiens' debut in Boston on Tuesday.
Danault had an extremely quiet season offensively, going goalless with just five assists in 30 games this season with the Kings. Danault, who is signed through 2026-27 with a cap-hit of $5.5M, reportedly expressed a desire to be traded and the Kings facilitated a deal in exchange for a 2026 2nd Round Pick. Danault returns to Montreal, where he played from 2016 to 2021.
Goalie Start
Fowler will start in Boston on Tuesday.
In Montreal's final game before the Holiday Break, they will turn to the 21-year-old Fowler to tend the twine on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins. Fowler has showcased mixed results early in his four-game NHL career (2-1-1), posting a 2.49 GAA and .915 SV%, but is coming off a stellar 31-save shutout, the first of his career, in a 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Goalie Start
Dobes led the Canadiens onto the ice for warmups.
Evans (lower body) was placed on Injured Reserve.
Evans (lower-body) will not play in Sunday's game in Pittsburgh.
Evans suffered a lower-body injury in Saturday's game vs. the Penguins and did not travel to Pittsburgh for the second half of the home-and-home. With Evans out, Sammy Blais was recalled from Laval (AHL).
The Canadiens have recalled Sammy Blais from Laval (AHL).
Blais has been recalled from the AHL because Jake Evans suffered a lower-body injury and is not expected to play on Sunday. Blais has nine points (3G / 6A) in nine games since joining Laval after being waived by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Struble will be a healthy scratch vs. Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Matheson (upper-body) will return vs. Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Goalie Start
Fowler will start vs. Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Danault is expected to join the Canadiens in Boston next week.
Davidson has been loaned to Laval (AHL).
The Canadiens have acquired Phillip Danault from the Kings for a 2026 2nd Round Pick.
Danault has had an extremely quiet season offensively, going goalless with just five assists in 30 games this season. Danault, who is signed through 2026-27 with a cap-hit of $5.5M, reportedly expressed a desire to be traded and the Kings facilitated a deal in exchange for a 2026 2nd Round Pick. Danault returns to Montreal, where he played from 2016 to 2021.
Goalie Start
Dobes will start vs. Chicago on Thursday.
With Sam Montembeault on a conditioning assignment with the Laval Rocket (AHL), Montreal is seemingly rotating between Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler. Dobes will tend the twine on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks. The 24-year-old Dobes has been wildly inconsistent this season, but is coming off a stellar performance, saving 27 of 28 shots (.964 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers. He has a 3.03 GAA and .892 SV% in 18 games this season (11-5-2). The Canadiens enter Thursday's contest as -178 home favorites against a Blackhawks team that has struggled without Connor Bedard (upper body) and has been outscored 10-4 in their last three games (0-3-0).