Michael Pezzetta takes Joel Armia’s place in the line-up

Yesterday, we learned that the Canadiens would not be making any changes in net for tonight’s game against Los Angeles. Samuel Montembeault will have the chance to defend his team’s cage for the second game in a row.

And that’s surprising news, considering the rotation that’s been going on for weeks.

Defensively, no changes are to be expected. Although Mike Matheson had a treatment day earlier this week, he will be back for tonight’s game.

David Savard is not yet ready.

But it’s in attack that a change is to be expected. Joel Armia, who missed yesterday’s practice to undergo treatment, will skip his turn for tonight’s game. Michael Pezzetta will take his place.

Martin St-Louis confirmed this in a press conference.

Such a result was to be expected. After all, during the day’s (optional) training session, both men skated, but El Pezz returned to the dressing room quicker than his Finnish colleague.

Armia therefore went into overtime.

Optional exercise this morning. Attendance list:

Caufield-Slafkovsky
-Evans-
Pearson-
Armia-Stephens-Ylönen
Pezzetta

-Lindström
Guhle-Barron
Struble-Kovacevic
Norlinder-Savard

Montembeault
Primeault
Allen

Suzuki was there at the start to shoot with Caufield, but left again

– Guillaume Lefrançois (@glefrancoisLP) December 7, 2023

Is Joel Armia not playing because he’s injured? Or is he not playing because the Habs want to play Michael Pezzetta instead? The question arises.

After all, you’d think Pezzetta and his hair deserved a little action. The player’s last game was in November against the Kings in Los Angeles.

One might think that fans’ grumbling about the lack of physical presence (without Arber Xhekaj, it changes a lot of things) in the Flanelle lineup may have weighed in the balance? That’s another question.

After all, if Joel Armia’s health isn’t at stake, one wonders why he’s the one on the hook.

Extension

Sean Monahan will probably play his 26th game of the season tonight. That’s one more than last year, when he played just 25.

If he plays tonight (or if he plays another game between now and the end of the season, in fact), he’ll collect his $15,000 bonus, bringing his salary to $2 million for the 2023-2024 season.