What Happened
Montreal Canadiens forward Jake Evans will be a game-time decision for Tuesday's matchup with the Minnesota Wild, head coach Martin St. Louis told reporters. Evans picked up an ailment during Monday's practice after making contact with teammate Nick Suzuki, putting his availability in doubt. St. Louis said Florian Xhekaj will participate in warmups as a contingency if Evans cannot dress. The Canadiens will get Josh Anderson back in the lineup after he missed Saturday's game for personal reasons. Jacob Fowler, the club's highly regarded young goaltender, gets the start in net against Minnesota.
Key Details
- Evans is a game-time decision for Tuesday's game against the Wild after a practice ailment.
- The injury occurred Monday following contact with teammate Nick Suzuki.
- Florian Xhekaj will take warmups as insurance in case Evans cannot play.
- Evans, 30, has two goals and four assists in 17 games this season.
- He has 54 goals and 104 assists for 158 points in 435 career games with Montreal.
- Josh Anderson returns after missing Saturday's game for personal reasons; he has seven goals and three assists in 16 games.
- Jacob Fowler starts in goal with a 2.15 goals-against average and .925 save percentage.
What It Means
Evans has been a regular in Montreal's bottom six, so his absence would push the club to adjust its forward group on short notice, with Xhekaj on standby after warmups. Anderson's return offsets some of that risk by restoring a veteran body who has produced seven goals in 16 games. In net, the Canadiens turn to Fowler, whose 2.15 goals-against average and .925 save percentage give Montreal a strong option against Minnesota. A game-time call means the final lineup will not be settled until pregame warmups.
What's Next
The Canadiens host the Wild on Tuesday, with Evans' status resolved around warmups and Xhekaj available as a fallback. The club's subsequent lineup decisions, including whether Evans misses additional games, depend on how he responds after the practice ailment.