The Montreal Canadiens have called up Adam Engstrom, Owen Beck, and Jacob Fowler following back-to-back losses and significant setbacks over the past two weeks. Despite the goaltender Fowler being recalled, coach Martin St. Louis downplayed its significance due to recent team struggles. Additionally, Jake Evans is temporarily leaving the team for personal reasons but is expected to return before Saturday’s game against the New York Rangers. Evans has been managing a foot injury since November 20 and will receive treatment in Philadelphia, though the team chose to attribute his absence to personal matters rather than his injury.
Evans’ absence led St. Louis to rearrange his lines at practice, with Zachary Bolduc joining Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, Julii Slavkovsky skating alongside Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen, and rookie Owen Beck becoming a key player on a new line with Alexandre Texier and Josh Anderson. Joe Veleno, Jared Davidson, and Brendan Gallagher reunited on a separate line. On defense, Engstrom alternated with Jaden Struble on the second pairing with Lane Hutson. Struble struggled in the last game against the Lightning, leading to Engstrom’s call-up amidst the team’s ongoing challenges.
Goaltending remains uncertain, with Jakub Dobes having started the previous three games and Samuel Montembeault sidelined by illness. Coach St. Louis is unsure if newcomer Fowler will get playing time on the road. Despite this, Fowler is the likely starter for his debut game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, who feature goaltender Tristan Jarry with a strong record against the Canadiens. The Penguins’ other goalie, Arturs Silovs, has yet to face the Canadiens.
The Canadiens will need to contain Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who has an impressive track record against them, along with Evgeni Malkin, though he is currently injured. Defensemen Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang also have had success playing Boston. Leading the Canadiens offensively are Gallagher, Suzuki, and Mike Matheson, with Anderson as the only player to have scored in double digits against Pittsburgh. The first of three games between the teams is set for Thursday night, with the Penguins holding a recent edge in their matchups.
The game starts at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on SN-PIT, TSN2, and RDS. The Canadiens will skip practice that morning but will hold a media session at their hotel. Whether St. Louis can solve the goaltending puzzle remains to be seen.
Fan Take: This update highlights the Canadiens’ resilience as they adjust their roster under pressure, showing the dynamic nature of hockey where team depth and youth development are crucial. Fans should watch closely as the debut of new players and the clash with a powerhouse like the Penguins could significantly influence the Canadiens’ season momentum and overall league standings.
