Canadiens Game 65: Harris & Dvorak Out, Richard Called Up

The Montreal Canadiens (26-33-5) will look to snap their four-game losing streak against the energized New York Rangers (35-19-9) on Thursday night. The puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

After three consecutive losses on their western road trip and a hard-fought shootout loss to the Hurricanes on Tuesday, the Canadiens will be hungry to get into the win column.

The Canadiens will have their work cut out for them, as the New York Rangers appear stronger and hungrier than ever.

But the same can be said of certain forwards on the team at the moment, as Jonathan Drouin has been surprisingly effective in producing offence of late.

The 28-year-old veteran has put up 16 points in his last 21 games; making him one of the most productive forwards on the team as of late.

Jonathan Drouin with a great assist as Mike Hoffman makes it a two-goal first period for the Habs pic.twitter.com/hfaeDXzY5d

— Scott Matla (@scottmatla) March 8, 2023

On the defensive end, Mike Matheson has firmly taken hold of the role of No.1 defenceman on the team.

The 29-year-old has two goals and two assists in his last six games, and has had an average of 25 minutes of ice time during that span.

He’s been a force on transition and continues to show that Kent Hughes made a savvy choice in demanding that he be included in any deal involving Jeff Petry this summer with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Canadiens started practice with a bit of good news on Thursday, as Kaiden Guhle, who missed the last two games with an upper-body injury, joined the team for a full practice today.

That good news was met with immediate bad news, as the Canadiens announced that Jordan Harris and Christian Dvorak are out with day-to-day injuries and would be ruled out for today.

With Harris’ injury and no call-up made prior to tonight’s game, Guhle will return to the lineup tonight.

The Canadiens also proceeded to recall Anthony Richard from the Laval Rocket to replace Dvorak, as the Canadiens only had 11 healthy forward.

Samuel Montembeault, who has been stellar for the Canadiens down the stretch, is expected to start tonight’s game.

After a valiant effort against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, the Canadiens are hoping to build off that momentum to secure the win, but the Rangers have other plans.

From Rags To Riches

The New York Rangers’ rebuild is over and their window of contention is now right in front of them.

After having made the initial move to acquire Vladimir Tarasenko from the St. Louis Blues, the Rangers double-dipped in the rental market and scooped up star forward Patrick Kane.

Tarasenko has had an immediate impact on the Rangers since being acquired, posting five points in his last five games and playing an average of 16 minutes a night.

As for Kane, his start in the Big Apple hasn’t necessarily gotten off to as strong a start as most would have hoped, now pointless in his first two games with the Rangers and sporting a -4 during that time.

However, despite all these additions, the Rangers lost their last two games to the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins since the NHL Trade Deadline.

New York is likely to be hungry for the win against the Canadiens, as they look to keep pace in the competitive Eastern Conference.

It likely means that they won’t fall into the trap of underestimating their opponents like many of the Canadiens’ opponents have in the recent past.

Your pre-game analysis below:

Montreal Canadiens Injuries

• Chris Wideman (Week-To-Week)
• Joel Armia (Day-To-Day)
• Justin Barron (Injured)
• Christian Dvorak (Injured)
• Jordan Harris (Day-To-Day)
• Kirby Dach (Out Indefinitely)
• Brendan Gallagher (Injured Reserve)
• Jake Evans (Injured Reserve)
• Arber Xhekaj (Injured Reserve)
• Juraj Slafkovsky (Injured Reserve)
• Cole Caufield (Injured Reserve)
• Sean Monahan (LTIR)
• Carey Price (LTIR)
• Paul Byron (LTIR)

New York Rangers Injuries

• Ryan Lindgren (Day-To-Day)
• Tyler Motte (Day-To-Day)

Montreal Canadiens Previous Lineup

New York Rangers Projected Lineup

Kreider-Zibanejad-Tarasenko

Panarin-Trotchek-Kane

Lafrenière-Chytil-Kakko

Vesey-Goodrow-Brodzinski

Defence:

Miller-Trouba

Mikkola-Fox

Harpur-Schneider

Goalies:

Shesterkin

Halak

Special Teams

How to Watch Or Listen

TV

RDS, TSN2, MSG

Radio

Montreal Canadiens: TSN 690 – 98,5FM