Canadiens Game 66: Dach & Evans Skate, Allen Starts

The Montreal Canadiens (26-33-7) will host the potent New Jersey Devils  (42-16-6) on Sunday night. The puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

The Montreal Canadiens may have collected points in their last two games at home, but are still riding a five-game losing streak heading into tonight’s game.

A big reason for that is the never-ending list of injuries the Canadiens have to deal with, as Christian Dvorak and Jordan Harris were the two latest victims to be kept out of the lineup on Thursday.

The Canadiens did get a bit of good news on Thursday, as Kaiden Guhle returned from an upper-body injury and immediately imposed himself in the Habs’ tilt against the New York Rangers with a goal and an assist in the 4-3 shootout loss.

Kaiden Guhle with a beauty! 😍 pic.twitter.com/W1aTe0j6xD

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 10, 2023

Prior to practice Kirby Dach and Jake Evans took to the ice for a bit of a skate.

Both players have missed over a month of action now with lower-body injuries and are seemingly on the mend; but not yet ready to engage in full practices.

In the face of all these injuries, the Canadiens have had to call-up the entirety of the Laval Rocket’s top-six in order to ice 12 forwards on a nightly basis.

With Rafaël Harvey-Pinard starting off his call-up on fire, posting eight goals and four assists for 12 points in 21 games, it’s now been Alex Belzile’s time lately.

The 31-year-old AHL journeyman has taken advantage of the opportunity he’s been given this season; playing sound defensively, while chipping in offensively in a timely fashion.

The veteran forward has played every forward position for the Canadiens of late, all while potting three goals and an assist in his last three games.

Both Harvey-Pinard and Belzile are using this time to show general manager Kent Hughes that they deserve to be part of the plans next year; as the Canadiens are expecting some significant turnover with their forward corps.

Veteran Jake Allen, who has been stellar for the Canadiens since the All-Star break, is expected to get the start for the Canadiens tonight.

Goals in three straight? 🔥

We love to see it, Alex Belzile. pic.twitter.com/829phj02wk

— NHL (@NHL) March 10, 2023

Red-Hot Devils

The New Jersey Devils have a different feel to them as of late.

With the recent acquisition of Timo Meier from the San Jose Sharks, their offensive unit just became that much more dangerous going into the NHL Playoffs.

In the three games since he’s been acquired, Meier has only registered one goal; leading many to expect that he’ll be hungry to prove himself to his new teammates against the Canadiens.

Youngster Dawson Mercer has been their best player of late, sporting an 11-game point streak for the Devils.

The 21-year-old has posted a remarkable 11 goals and eight assists for 19 points during his current point streak and leads New Jersey in every offensive category.

His rise to prominence has been a huge development for the Devils, who now have yet another dangerous offensive weapon to join the ranks of Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier.

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 Jersey Devils Injuries

• Jonatha Benier (Injured Reserve)
• Mackenzie Blackwood (Injured Reserve)

Montreal Canadiens Previous Lineup

New Jersey Devils Projected Lineup

Tatar-Hischier-Mercer

Meier-Hughes-Boqvist

Palat-Haula-Bratt

Wood-McLeod-Bastian

Defence:

Siegenthaler-Hamilton

Graves-Marino

Smith-Severson

Goalies:

Vanecek

Schmid

Special Teams

How to Watch Or Listen

TV

TVA Sports, Sportsnet, MSGSN, MSGSN2

Radio

Montreal Canadiens: TSN 690 – 98,5FM