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.
Engstrom falls right back out of the Habs lineup after slotting in on Saturday. Jayden Struble will skate in his place.
Struble will slot right back into the Habs lineup after serving as a healthy scratch on Saturday. Adam Engstrom will sit in his place.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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).
After a breakout 2024-25 season, posting a solid 2.82 GAA and .901 SV% in 62 appearances (31-24-7), helping the Canadiens make the playoffs, Montembeault has struggled immensely this season. The 29-year-old goalie has a 3.65 GAA and .857 SV% in 15 games this season (5-6-1). The Canadiens will help he can gain some confidence playing with the Laval Rocket (AHL).
Matheson played 26:05 time-on-ice in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers, but will not play on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Flyers due to an upper-body injury. The 31-year-old defenseman is averaging 24:54 time-on-ice and has 16 points (4G / 12A) in 32 games this season.
