Canadiens Game 40: Primeau To Start, Drysdale Faces Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens (17-17-5) will face the Philadelphia Flyers  (26-10-1) at Well Fargo Centre on Wednesday. The puck drop is scheduled for 7 pm ET.

The Habs are coming off an exciting 4-3 win over the high-flying Rangers in which Samuel Montembeault played a starring role. The Canadiens’ netminder saved over 40 shots, including 10 taken from high-danger areas.

He also made one of the nicest saves you’ll ever see in the shootout versus Mika Zibanejad.

MUST READ: GOTTA SEE IT: Samuel Montembeault Robs Zibanejad In Shootout

Head coach Martni St-Louis did not make any major changes to his lineup, except for the usual goaltender carousel. Cayden Primeau will get the start against the Flyers, with Samuel Montembeault playing on Thursday night versus the lowly San Jose Sharks. This points to goaltender Jake Allen getting the start against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.

The Oilers have enquired about the availability of Allen on a few occasions. His potential start against Connor McDavid and Co. could be a final audition.

Rafael Harvey-Pinard is nearing a return to play, but he’s yet to be cleared to play, and will not join the team in Philadelphia.

As for the Flyers, they’ve defied the odds this season.

Most expected them to be a bottom-feeder team, but they’ve managed to bank enough points to sit third in the Metropolitan Division.

Newcomer Jamie Drysdale will play his first game in a Flyers uniform. Drysdale was traded to the Flyers along with a second-round pick in 2025 for prospect Cutter Gauthier earlier this week.

The Flyers had offered Gauthier to the Canadiens at the Draft, but Kent Hughes rejected the deal, preferring to draft defenceman David Reinbacher with the fifth overall pick.

Montreal Canadiens Injuries

• Carey Price (IR)
• Chris Wideman (IR)
• Kirby Dach (out indefinitely, ACL/MCL)
• Rafael Harvey-Pinard (day-to-day)
• Alex Newhook (out 10-12 weeks)
• Tanner Pearson (IR)
• Christian Dvorak (out)

Philadelphia Flyers Injuries

• Noah Cates (IR)

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup

Philadelphia Flyers Projected Lineup

Farabee – Couturier – Konecny

Tippett – Frost – Atkinson

Foerster – Laughtin – Hathaway

Zamula – Poehling – Brink

Defence

Sanheim – Drysdale

York – Walker

Seeler – Ristolainen

Goalie

Ersson

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