Montreal Canadiens vs. Vegas Golden Knights Preview
Following a pair of victories, the Montreal Canadiens are set to face the Vegas Golden Knights at the T-Mobile Arena this Friday afternoon. This matinee matchup coincides with a Thanksgiving holiday in the United States.
Goaltending Decisions
Head coach Martin St-Louis has opted to start Samuel Montembeault in goal against the Knights. Previously, Jakub Dobes tended the net in the last two contests, but the coach will rely on both goaltenders due to the back-to-back schedule. Montembeault holds a track record of 1-2-2 against Vegas, with a goals-against average of 3.65 and a save percentage of .900. Conversely, Dobes has yet to compete against the Knights and will be preserved for an upcoming game against the formidable Colorado Avalanche, who have recently strung together 10 consecutive wins, with three shutouts among them.
Knights’ Goaltending Situation
On the other side, the Knights’ head coach Bruce Cassidy has not disclosed which netminder will start for them. The club has been missing their primary goalkeeper, Adin Hill, who has only participated in five games this season due to a lower-body injury sustained before October 20. Currently, Akira Schmidt and Carl Lindbom have been handling the goaltending duties, although there are expectations for Carter Hart to be called up shortly—eligible for play starting December 1. Schmidt has been the primary option this season, having secured victory in his only encounter against the Canadiens where he allowed just a single goal and recorded an impressive .958 save percentage. Meanwhile, Lindbom has yet to experience a match against the Canadiens and could also be in line to play during this back-to-back scenario.
Historical Context
Historically speaking, the Canadiens and the Knights have faced off 14 times since Vegas entered the NHL, with Montreal holding a balanced record of 6-6-2 against them. The Knights have dominated recent meetings, winning seven of the last ten, and outscoring the Canadiens 44-34. However, the Knights are currently underperforming, collecting only three wins against two losses and five overtime defeats in their previous ten contests; they are also aiming to snap a three-game losing streak.
Player Milestones
In terms of personal milestones, Brendan Gallagher will lace up for his 857th game with the Canadiens, matching Tom Johnson for the 16th spot in the franchise’s all-time games played list. Gallagher stands as the Canadiens’ second most effective scorer against the Knights, accumulating eight points in 11 matchups—just behind team captain Nick Suzuki, who has achieved ten points in ten games. Mike Matheson follows closely with seven points over 12 meetings, while Cole Caufield enjoys a point-per-game average against Vegas, netting five points through five matchups.
Potential Lineup Changes
Despite no confirmed changes to the lineup yet, analyst Renaud Lavoie from TVA Sports speculates that Alexandre Texier may make his Canadiens debut, possibly replacing Jared Davidson, who saw no ice time in the final period of Wednesday’s game against the Utah Mammoth. Texier has gained three points in three encounters against the Knights previously. Additionally, Adam Engstrom may appear for his sophomore game, potentially taking the place of rookie Arber Xhekaj, although Xhekaj’s recent playtime was limited as well.
Key Players to Watch
In a notable twist, former Toronto Maple Leaf Mitch Marner, now with the Knights, maintains the strongest offensive record against the Canadiens with 39 points in 38 games. Jack Eichel also makes his mark against Montreal with 24 points in 24 games, while captain Mark Stone has 23 points across 27 contests. Eichel currently ranks seventh in the NHL scoring leaderboard, boasting 31 points for the season and securing seven points in his last four outings.
Viewing Information
Those interested in witnessing this clash can watch the game across various platforms including SCRIPPS, RDS, and TSN 2, commencing at 4:00 PM ET. Post-game, the Canadiens will head to Denver, where they are expected to arrive at 12:30 AM, prior to their Saturday match against the Avalanche, who will also be in action Friday night against the Minnesota Wild. For continuous updates on the Canadiens, fans can follow Karine on social media platforms and check out exclusive content from The Hockey News, including discussions at the Canadiens’ roundtable and newsletter subscriptions for the latest developments.
