As the Montreal Canadiens gear up to face the Washington Capitals tonight at the Bell Centre, some updates have emerged. TVA Sports reporter Renaud Lavoie has indicated that there will be a change to Martin St-Louis’ lineup, which will soon be confirmed.
Good news regarding Kaiden Guhle: Lavoie reports that Guhle is likely to return after missing one game, providing a significant boost to St-Louis’ defensive lineup. It remains to be seen which defenseman will make way for Guhle, but it is anticipated to be either Justin Barron or Jayden Struble.
Unsurprisingly, goaltender Samuel Montembeault will be starting once again.
At just 22 years old, Guhle stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 202 pounds. The Canadiens’ first-round pick in 2020 (16th overall) has accumulated 6 points in 20 games this season. Montembeault, 28, holds a record of 8-10-2 this season, with a 2.82 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.
Will the Canadiens be able to secure a victory over the Capitals at home, particularly with the absence of star player Alex Ovechkin? Interestingly, Washington has emerged as a surprise frontrunner in the 2024-2025 season, currently leading the Metropolitan Division with a record of 18 wins, 6 losses, and 2 overtime losses.
Guhle had to miss the last game due to illness, with Barron stepping in at the last minute. It seems likely that Barron will sit out tonight to make way for Guhle’s return, indicating that Guhle’s issue was not serious.
Montembeault is set to be the starter for the third consecutive game this week and has performed excellently in his previous outings. He will need to maintain that level of play against the formidable Capitals. Additionally, he will be facing Logan Thompson, a fellow goaltender he previously competed with in a Team Canada tournament, making for an exciting goaltending matchup as Thompson seeks to prove he merits a starting spot over Montembeault.
