The Montreal Canadiens Face the Carolina Hurricanes
On Tuesday night, the Montreal Canadiens will host the Carolina Hurricanes at the Bell Centre for the first matchup of the season between these two teams. The last encounter was in March 2024, where the Canadiens suffered a 3-0 loss, with Samuel Montembeault in net. Despite the scoreline, an empty-net goal contributed to the final tally.
Current Standings and Recent Performances
The Hurricanes, under the leadership of Rod Brind’Amour, currently sit second in the Metropolitan division, 14 points behind the dominating Washington Capitals. However, their recent form has been inconsistent, winning only 5 out of their last 10 games and recently losing 6-3 to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In contrast, the Canadiens, led by Martin St-Louis, have struggled against the Hurricanes, losing the last nine meetings. The Canadiens have won only one of their last ten encounters with the Hurricanes, highlighting the uphill battle they face.
Key Injuries and Player Movements
The Canadiens will be without center Kirby Dach, who is dealing with a lower body injury. Owen Beck has been called up from the Laval Rocket to fill the void. Martin St-Louis has confirmed that Montembeault will be in net for a second consecutive game. Montembeault, who has never beaten the Hurricanes, stands with a 0-5-1 record, a 3.46 goals-against average (GAA), and a .905 save percentage (SP) against them. Meanwhile, there is no word on who will tend the net for the Hurricanes, with Pytor Kochetkov having played in their last game. Frederik Andersen, who has a strong record against the Canadiens with a 14-4-2 record, a 2.27 GAA, and a .928 SP, could be an option.
Key Players to Watch
Patrik Laine leads the Canadiens’ offensive efforts against the Hurricanes, with 10 goals and nine assists in 23 games. Brendan Gallagher, who has 14 points in 28 games, was notably absent from Sunday’s skills competition and Monday’s practice, possibly due to his wife’s impending delivery of their first child. David Savard rounds out the top three with 11 points in 44 games. Conversely, the Canadiens’ first line, including captain Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, has struggled against the Hurricanes. Suzuki has managed just one point in 12 games, while Caufield has been blanked in six games. Juraj Slafkovsky has also been scoreless in his three appearances against Carolina.
Threats from the Hurricanes
The Hurricanes’ primary threat comes from Sebastian Aho, who has 23 points in 20 games against the Canadiens. Team captain Jordan Staal has 23 points in 52 games, and defenseman Brent Burns adds 20 points in 25 games. Recently acquired Mikko Rantanen, who may only be a temporary Hurricane if rumors are to be believed, has 14 points in 14 games against the Canadiens.
Upcoming Schedule and Additional Notes
Following the game against the Hurricanes, the Canadiens will have a day off before welcoming the San Jose Sharks to Montreal on Thursday night. This match will feature two of the top three rookies in the league this season: first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini and rookie blueliner Lane Hutson, who are in a heated race for the title of rookie of the year and the highest-scoring rookie.
Stay tuned for all the latest Canadiens news, analysis, and breaking updates. Follow Karine Hains on various platforms and bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens’ page for all the happenings around the team.
