Habs Report: Price To Start, Harvey-Pinard And Evans In

The Montreal Canadiens announced a few lineup changes leading up to their game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night.

Carey Price will play in his second straight game for the first time since the Stanley Cup playoffs, a sign that the veteran goaltender is rounding out to form and showing positive signs in his return to a regular starting role in the NHL. The Canadiens’ goaltender was solid in his last performance against the Minnesota Wild despite the club being blanked 2-0 on Tuesday night and he’s looking to build on that solid performance against a struggling Flyers club who immediately trail the Canadiens in the NHL standings.

Carey Price obtiendra le départ face aux Flyers.

Carey Price starts against the Flyers.#GoHabsGo

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 21, 2022

Rafaël Harvey-Pinard will draw in for the Canadiens tonight as a replacement for the injured Paul Byron. Recalled from Laval on Wednesday morning, Harvey-Pinard has been the heart and soul of the Laval Rocket for the better part of two seasons now. The gritty winger has a golden opportunity to show he can do the same for the Canadiens in the not-so-distant future.

Jake Evans is also returning to the lineup after battling a nasty virus over the last few days; he will be replacing Laurent Dauphin, who will be drawing out of the lineup. Evans has had a stellar year for the Montreal Canadiens this season, obliterating his scoring pace of years past with 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points in 67 games.

Unfortunately for rookie Jordan Harris, he will be scratched again tonight in favour of Kale Clague, as the Montreal Canadiens continue to try and ease him into the lineup in preparation for Training Camp this season. The 21-year-old defenceman is being brought along slowly by head coach Martin St. Louis, as he attempts to continue rotating his nine healthy defencemen until the end of the season.

The Montreal Canadiens had so many defencemen on their roster that they announced the reassignment of Corey Schueneman to the Laval Rocket on Wednesday in order to give the Canadiens farm team some much-needed reinforcements. For Schueneman, he will be able to play top-pair minutes in Laval as they forge ahead toward the club’s first qualification in the AHL playoffs since moving across the river from the Canadiens in 2017.

Martin St-Louis confirme que Jake Evans sera de retour dans la formation ce soir. Kale Clague prendra la place de Jordan Harris.

Martin St-Louis confirms that Jake Evans will return to the lineup tonight. Kale Clague will take Jordan Harris' spot.#GoHabsGo

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) April 21, 2022