Laine appears to be nearing a return to the lineup but will miss a fourth straight contest on Friday. The 26-year-old Laine has been impressive in his limited time with the Canadiens, scoring 10 points (8G / 2A) in 13 games despite averaging a career-low 14:51 time-on-ice.
Mathieu Joseph will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Minnesota Wild, allowing Bolduc to return to the lineup. The 21-year-old Bolduc did not play the previous game for the Blues. He is averaging 12:14 time-on-ice and has 12 points (5G / 7A) in 34 games this season.
Laine appears to be nearing a return to the lineup but will miss a third straight contest on Monday against the Vancouver Canucks. The 26-year-old Laine has been impressive in his limited time with the Canadiens, scoring 10 points (8G / 2A) in 13 games despite averaging a career-low 14:51 time-on-ice.
The Canadiens played their last game with Jakub Dobes in their crease, an impressive 2-1 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Still, they will turn to Montembeault between the pipes on Monday against the Vancouver Canucks. Montembeault allowed four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 4-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. He has a 2.91 GAA and .900 SV% in 31 games this season (14-15-2). The Canadiens enter Monday's contest as +113 home underdogs against a Canucks squad coming off a 3-0 loss to the Nashville Predators.
Struble will fill in for David Savard, who is out with an undisclosed injury. Struble has two goals and three assists in 22 games this season, but has not played since December 12th.
Laine was a surprise scratch on Friday, with the team only announcing his absence minutes before warmups. We should get an update on his status ahead of Montreal's game in Colorado on Saturday.
The Canadiens have won three straight and will roll with Montembeault between the pipes on Friday against a Chicago Blackhawks club coming off a 6-2 loss in Tuesday's Winter Classic against the St. Louis Blues. Montembeault was solid in his most recent outing, saving 27 of 29 shots (.931 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. The 28-year-old Montembeault has a 2.87 GAA and .902 SV% in 30 games this season (14-14-2).
Clurman made his NHL debut on December 29th at 26 years old and picked up two PIMs and four SOG across 11:05 TOI before being assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) on Wednesday. The defenseman returns to the minors, where he a goal, five points and 10 PIMs in 18 games played before his call-up.
The Canadiens have outscored their opposition 9-2 in their last two games (2-0-0) and will roll with Montembeault between the pipes on Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights. Montembeault was solid in his last outing, saving 21 of 23 shots (.913 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has a 2.90 GAA and .901 SV% in 29 games this season (13-14-2). The Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as sizeable +208 road underdogs.
Texier played the last three games for the Blues but will miss Friday's game against the Nashville Predators due to an illness. The 25-year-old Texier is averaging 12:53 time-on-ice and has five points (2G / 3A) in 18 games this season.
Cayden Primeaeu is expected to be placed on waivers tomorrow, allowing Dobes to make his NHL debut on Saturday against the Florida Panthers. Dobes was a fifth-round pick, 136th overall, of the Canadiens in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 23-year-old goalie, a product of Ohio State University, has a 2.44 GAA and .910 SV% in 14 games (9-3-1) with the Laval Rocket (AHL).
