What Happened
Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis is weighing lineup decisions ahead of Tuesday's home opener against the Carolina Hurricanes, according to Sportsnet. The Canadiens are coming off a 6-5 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Florian Xhekaj, Oliver Kapanen and Adam Engstrom are among the players who could enter the lineup, and goaltender Samuel Montembeault may also be an option after a strong pre-season. Kaiden Guhle remains out following surgery.
Key Details
- Montreal lost 6-5 in overtime to Pittsburgh on Saturday.
- Tuesday's home opener is a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference Final, which Carolina won.
- Florian Xhekaj practiced on a line with Jake Evans and Josh Anderson.
- Oliver Kapanen started the season day-to-day with a lower-body injury and appears ready.
- Adam Engstrom could play while Kaiden Guhle recovers from surgery.
- Samuel Montembeault had a hot pre-season; Jakub Dobes struggled against Pittsburgh.
What It Means
St. Louis faces a difficult balance: rewarding players who want another shot at Carolina while also making changes after a sloppy loss. The rematch carries extra weight because the Hurricanes ended Montreal's playoff run last season and went on to win the Cup, and Tuesday's home opener gives the Canadiens their first chance at a response.
What's Next
Montreal hosts Carolina on Tuesday. St. Louis is expected to finalize his lineup before puck drop, with Kapanen, Engstrom, Xhekaj and Montembeault among the candidates to enter.