Montreal Canadiens News

Source: Montreal Canadiens 12/2/23, 10:47 am EST

Source: Renaud Lavoie 12/2/23, 10:24 am EST

Stephens had three goals, nine assists, eight PIMs and a +7 plus/minus in 16 games to start the season in Laval (AHL) and has been recalled to Montreal for the first time since being acquired ahead of the 2022-23 season. The 26-year-old forward returns to the NHL for the first time since 2021-22 with Detroit and will look to build off his three goals and 13 career points he has in 72 NHL games played.

Source: Montreal Canadiens 12/1/23, 5:55 pm EST

Newhook left the Canadiens' game Thursday vs. Florida in the third period after 15:14 TOI due to an undisclosed injury and was absent from practice Friday. The 22-year-old is expected to be evaluated after practice Friday and should have more updates. His first season in Montreal has gone well after an offseason deal from Colorado, with seven goals, six assists, 31 SOG, eight PIMs and a -5 plus/minus in 23 games prior to the injury.

Source: Priyanta Emrith 12/1/23, 1:27 pm EST

After rumblings of a contract extension being in the works for several weeks, the two parties finally agreed on a three-year, $9.45 million contract. Montembeault has been a bright spot for the Canadiens this season, consistently putting up strong performances throughout the season thus far. Remarkably, seven of Montembeault's nine starts this season are quality starts (.778 QS%). He has a 2.73 GAA and .910 SV% along with a 5-3-1 record, totals considerably more impressive considering the Canadiens' 25th-ranked league defence (3.48 GA / GP).

Source: Frank Seravalli 12/1/23, 11:00 am EST

Primeau will start on Thursday for the Canadiens, the back end of a back-to-back, after Samuel Montembeault got the nod on Wednesday. Primeau played exceptionally in his most recent contest, saving 31 of 33 shots (.939 SV%) in a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks, but will be facing a significantly more challenging opponent in the Florida Panthers on Thursday. The Panthers rank in the bottom third of the league offensively (2.91 GF / GP) but will still be heavy road favourites against a Canadiens team that played and travelled the previous night.

Source: Eric Engels 11/29/23, 12:39 pm EST

Pezzetta has played five consecutive games for the Canadiens but will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday, allowing Joel Armia to draw back into the lineup. Through 17 games this season, Pezzetta is averaging 7:48 time-on-ice and has three points (1G / 2A).

Source: Arpon Basu 11/29/23, 12:32 pm EST

Armia has not played since November 9th, a span of eight games, but will draw back into the lineup for the Canadiens on Wednesday in favour of Michael Pezzetta, who will be a healthy scratch. In six games this season, Armia has one point (1G / 0A) and eight shots while averaging 12:38 time-on-ice.

Source: Arpon Basu 11/29/23, 12:30 pm EST

Montembeault has been more than serviceable when called upon this season for a Canadiens team that ranks 30th in the league in terms of shot suppression (34.5 SA / GP). In his last four games (2-1-0), Montembeault has only allowed eight total goals, saving 105 of 133 shots (.929 SV%). Facing the Canadiens on Wednesday are the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are playing their best hockey of the season, winning three of their last four (3-1-0) and outscoring their opposition 16-9. The Canadiens have lost five of their last seven (2-5-0) and, as such, are +112 road underdogs against the suddenly hot Blue Jackets.

Source: Eric Engels 11/29/23, 10:59 am EST

Its been three games since Allen took the crease vs. Boston but he will look to snap a personal four-game losing streak Saturday as he takes on Los Angeles on the road. The 33-year-old has hovered around his career averages all season with his 3-4-1 record, 3.54 GAA and .907 SV%. He will take on the red hot Los Angeles Kings on the road who have won four straight and are second in the NHL in goals (4.0) and seventh in shots per game (32.2).

Source: Arpon Basu 11/25/23, 1:47 pm EST

Source: Stu Cowan 11/24/23, 5:30 pm EST

Source: Stu Cowan 11/24/23, 5:30 pm EST

Primeau will start for the fourth time this season and the first time since allowing six goals on 42 shots (.857 SV%) in a 6-5 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on November 16th. Primeau has had mixed results this season, posting a 3.97 GAA and .885 SV% through three games (1-2-0), but will get an opportunity to shine Friday afternoon against the low-scoring San Jose Sharks. The Sharks have scored one goal or fewer in 13 of their 19 games this season, ranking 32nd in the league offensively, scoring only 1.47 goals per game.

Source: Montreal Canadiens 11/24/23, 10:02 am EST

Struble was Montreal's 2019 second-round pick (46th overall) and will make his NHL debut Wednesday in Anaheim. The 22-year-old defenseman had a goal, five assists, 29 PIMs, and a +4 plus/minus through 12 games with Laval (AHL) prior to his promotion to the big leagues and needed only 21 AHL games under his belt before making his NHL debut.

Source: Elliotte Friedman 11/22/23, 2:54 pm EST

Montembeault will play for the first time since November 14th when he allowed two goals on 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames. Montembeault has consistently put together strong performances this season, recording quality starts in five of seven contests. Over his past three appearances (1-1-0), Montembeault has saved 75 of 80 shots (.938 SV%) and looks poised for another strong outing on Wednesday as the Canadiens take on an Anaheim Ducks team that has scored two or fewer goals in three straight games (0-3-0).

Source: Renaud Lavoie 11/22/23, 3:01 pm EST

Norlinder has a goal, an assist, eight PIMs, and a -15 plus/minus in 14 games with Laval (AHL) and has been recalled Tuesday. He will be expected to replace Jordan Harris (injured reserve) and build off his previous six-game showing in the NHL from 2021-22 where he had an assist and two PIMs. The 23-year-old was Montreal's 2019 third-round draft pick (64th overall).

Source: Montreal Canadiens 11/21/23, 6:19 pm EST

Harvey-Pinard has missed the Canadiens' last two games due to a lower-body injury and will now be out 6-8 weeks. It's a tough loss for the 24-year-old sophomore, who has four assists, 11 SOG, two PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in 13 games played prior to his injury.

Source: Renaud Lavoie 11/21/23, 2:42 pm EST

Harris joins the Canadiens' already lengthy list of injured players as it was announced Tuesday that he would be out indefinitely with a lower-body injury. The 23-year-old defensive defenseman has yet to find the back of the net this season with no goals, three assists, 12 SOG, eight PIMs, and a -7 plus/minus in 16 games prior to his injury.

Source: Montreal Canadiens 11/21/23, 5:59 pm EST

With Arber Xhakaj (upper-body) being ruled out of at least the next three games for the Canadiens, the team has recalled Struble from the AHL. Struble was the Canadiens' 46th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and has six points (1G / 5A) in 12 games with the Laval Rocket this season.

Source: Montreal Canadiens 11/20/23, 10:46 am EST

Harvey-Pinard did not play the last two games for the Canadiens, has been placed on the injured reserve, and will not travel on the team's upcoming California road trip, meaning he will miss at least the next three games. Before his injury, Pinard was held without a point in his last four games, racking up two shots on goals, averaging 10:22 time-on-ice.

Source: Montreal Canadiens 11/20/23, 10:43 am EST