The Montreal Canadiens are in Trois-Rivières for Kraft Hockeyville against the Ottawa Senators for a game on Monday night.
There are a lot of regulars who have made the trip to play in the game including Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovský, Ivan Demidov, and Lane Hutson.
A few of the combinations we have seen at camp will not be used in Monday’s game, as Martin St-Louis tries to see some other combinations. Of note, Chris Kreider and Alexandre Carrier are not on the trip, meaning someone else will play on the top line. Given the success of the Slafkovský, Oliver Kapanen, and Demidov line on Saturday, it will be telling to see whether they are together again or if we see different combinations.
It will be interesting who the team will tab to play centre. Could this be a look for Florian Xhekaj, who has played C in the AHL?
On defence, Noah Dobson and Lane Hutson appear to be the top pair, but I wonder whether we see David Reinbacher alongside Hutson at times in this one, as he tries to make his first NHL Opening Night roster.
Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj were underwhelming for most of Saturday night, and will get another look as will Adam Engström in the battle for spots on the Canadiens blue line that also includes Reinbacher.
Update: We got our answer
Jakub Dobeš and Samuel Montembeault will likely split the game. It is a bit of a homecoming for Montembeault, who has a house minutes from the rink.
Because this game does not count towards the maximum of four pre-season games, veterans are not subject to this game counting towards the two-game maximum.
The Canadiens will have two more pre-season games after tonight.
