Montreal Canadiens News

Poulin will slot in for Kevin Hayes, who was a late scratch due to an undisclosed injury. He'll start the game on Pittsburgh's fourth line alongside Vasily Ponomarev and Valtteri Puustinen.

With Emil Heineman returning from an upper-body injury, Kapanen will be a healthy scratch vs. Carolina. Kapanen appeared in six straight games, failing to record a point with just three SOG and a minus-1 rating.

Montreal can become the final team to clinch a playoff berth this season with a victory on Wednesday night against the Carolina Hurricanes. Montembeault will be tending the twine, looking to build on his 2.83 GAA and .901 SV% through 61 games this season (30-24-7). The 28-year-old Montembeault has done his part to help the Canadiens late in the season, posting a solid 2.14 GAA and .921 SV% through six games in April (4-1-1). The Canadiens enter Wednesday's contest as -118 home favorites against a Hurricanes team that has lost five of their last six games (1-4-1).

Montreal can clinch a playoff berth with a win on Monday and will turn to Montembeault between the pipes against the Chicago Blackhawks. Montembeault has been excellent lately, helping the Canadiens push for the playoffs, posting a 2.01 GAA and .928 SV% since the beginning of April (4-1-0). The 28-year-old goalie has a 2.83 GAA and .901 SV% in 60 games this season (30-24-6). The Canadiens enter Monday's contest as sizeable -281 home favorites against a Blackhawks team that is 2-1-1 in their last four games.

Demidov was selected No.5 overall in last summer's NHL Draft and was fantastic in the KHL this season. The 19-year-old led St. Petersburg SKA with 49 points (19G / 30A) in 65 games. Demidov should make an instant impact in the Canadiens' middle-6 and should be added immediately in keeper/dynasty leagues.

A six-game winning streak has positioned the Canadiens into the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference and they will turn to Montembeault between the pipes on Friday against the Ottawa Senators. Montembeault was excellent in his most recent outing, saving 35 of 36 shots (.972 SV%) in a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The 28-year-old goalie has a 2.81 GAA and .901 SV% in 59 games this season (30-23-6).

Gabriel Perreault will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Flyers, allowing Berard to draw back into the lineup. The 22-year-old Berard is averaging 10:33 time-on-ice and has eight points (4G / 4A) in 32 games this season.

Demidov was the fifth-overall pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday. The 19-year-old forward spent the entirety of the 2024-25 campaign in the KHL, tallying 49 points (19G / 30A) in 65 games.

With a win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, the Canadiens will be comfortably sitting in the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Montembeault will be tending the twine for the Canadiens, looking to build on his 2.85 GAA and .900 SV% in 58 games this season (29-23-6). The 28-year-old goalie has been excellent lately, posting a stellar 1.75 GAA and .926 SV% in his last four games (4-0-0). The Canadiens enter Tuesday's contest as -132 home favorites against a Red Wings team with points in four straight games (3-0-1).

Thorpe was a fifth-round pick, 130th overall, of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The 19-year-old forward has 52 pints (27G / 25A) in 68 games with the Vancouver Giants (WHL) this season.

With Matt Rempe (upper body) returning to the lineup, Berard will be a healthy scratch on Monday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 22-year-old Berard is averaging 10:33 time-on-ice and has eight pints (4G / 4A) in 32 games this season.

Texier has not played since March 27th and will remain out of the lineup on Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche. The 25-year-old Texier is averaging 12:29 time-on-ice and has 11 points (6G / 5A) in 31 games this season.