Habs Daily: Heineman Injury Update, Montembeault, Laval Rocket

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories you may have missed on Friday.

Montreal Canadiens News

Rookie Emil Heineman ditched the non-contact jersey at practice, which means he’s ready to play. The 23-year-old forward has been held out of action since he was struck by a car in Utah. It’s great news for the player and the team, but if I had to guess, linemate Jake Evans is probably the most excited to see Heineman return, as his offence has dried up without the Swede by his side. [The Montreal Canadiens Miss Emil Heineman More Than Expected]

Heinooooooo
#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/wMw1Cr8ApN

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) February 21, 2025

Brendan Gallagher knows a thing or two about the importance of working hard, and he seems to agree that losing Heineman was a significant blow to the team’s already fragile forward combinations.

Brendan Gallagher today on Emil Heineman:

“You can see how valuable he is to our group. I think he really balanced our 4 lines. He does a lot for us & we’re happy to see him back. You kinda laugh about it now. The guy got hit by a car! It’s kinda unfortunate. There’s not much… pic.twitter.com/P2uWA9KJvU

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) February 21, 2025

Samuel Montembeault did not end up starting at the 4 Nations, but the mere fact that he was part of Team Canada speaks to his fantastic journey from being placed on waivers to representing his country at the highest level. [4 Nations Faceoff: Montembeault’s Journey Sparks Inspiration]

I have to admit, cheering for Brad Marchand as he hoisted a trophy in Boston wasn’t something I ever thought I’d have to deal with. Weird times.

Brad Marchand & Samuel Montembeault are now BFFs 🇨🇦😅 pic.twitter.com/69MRtwkbBK

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) February 21, 2025

Boston College beat Vermont, but it was closer than expected. The Eagles ended up winning 6-3, with Montreal Canadiens prospect Jacob Fowler stopping 29 of the 32 shots sent his way.

We are underway at Gutterson Fieldhouse!

📺 https://t.co/10ZmpvLJr1
📻 @WEEI 850 AM
🎧 https://t.co/4PF6dXB0yy
📊 https://t.co/80Na1VZDpU pic.twitter.com/FYf2PGq9Y3

— BC Men’s Hockey (@BC_MHockey) February 22, 2025

The Laval Rocket rebounded from their 5-4 loss versus the Manitoba Moose, beating them 5-1 at Place Bell on Friday night. It was a decidedly one-sided affair, with the shots finishing 35-21 in Laval’s favour.

Joshua Roy (16), Sean Farrell (11), Alex  Beaucage (2), Florian Xhekaj (13), and Laurent Dauphin (15) scored for the home team, while Cayden Primeau made 20 saves to earn his 11th win of the year.

Yevgeni Volokhin lost his most recent KHL start, as Sochi dropped a 6-3 game against Torpedo. The 19-year-old netminder allowed six goals while making 35 saves. Fellow Canadiens prospect Bogdan Konyushkov was the busiest Torpedo player, with a little over 21 minutes of ice time.

ICYMI: With two-thirds of the season already in the books, we have a pretty good handle on what to expect from the Montreal Canadiens from here on out. There’s still a (slight) chance they can make the playoffs, while their draft odds are also in play. The key will be avoiding a finish in no man’s land. [Draft Odds and Playoff Odds: What To Expect From The Canadiens]