Montreal Canadiens Playoff Series Preview
The Montreal Canadiens are set to kick off their playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres this Wednesday evening, aiming for a strong start away from home. Ahead of this crucial Game 1, the Canadiens’ lineup may undergo some adjustments based on observations from their morning practice session.
Lineup Adjustments
In reports by RDS’ Patrick Friolet, it appears that Brendan Gallagher and Jayden Struble were spotted practicing with the team’s reserves, suggesting they may not feature in the opener. Meanwhile, Joe Veleno and Arber Xhekaj participated in the main session, indicating their potential inclusion in the lineup.
Player Performances
Gallagher, who celebrated his 34th birthday today, has had a modest playoff performance so far with one goal and a plus-1 rating across three post-season contests. Struble, who took part in all seven games during the previous round against the Tampa Bay Lightning, recorded no points but held a plus-3 rating.
For Veleno, an appearance in this game would mark the first playoff outing of his NHL journey. In the regular season, he played 61 games for Montreal, tallying two goals and five points along with a significant physical presence, racking up 166 hits but finishing with a minus-12 rating. Xhekaj, on the other hand, has contributed with one assist and accumulated 12 penalty minutes in six playoff games, maintaining a plus-3 rating thus far.
Final Thoughts
The Canadiens are working to finalize their roster to maximize their chances against the Sabres in this important postseason clash.
