Oliver Kapanen and Michael Pezzetta join forces to miss tonight’s game

On Monday morning, the Habs trained without Michael Pezzetta and Oliver Kapanen. We wondered if this meant these guys would skip their turn on Wednesday night. The answer is obviously yes.

At this morning’s training session, the trios were the same as on Monday. What this means is that this is surely the line-up that will face the Maple Leafs tonight at the Bell Centre.

Samuel Montembeault will be in net.

Canadiens lines at morning skate:

Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovský
Newhook-Dach-Armia
Barré-Boulet-Dvorak-Anderson
Heineman-Evans-Gallagher

Matheson-Guhle
Hutson-Savard
Xhekaj-Barron

Montrmbeault
Primeau

– Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) October 9, 2024

Is it understandable that the Habs want to wait to start Kapanen against Toronto because it’s going to be a bumpy ride? We think that’s part of the answer.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kapanen play his first NHL game tomorrow night. Emil Heineman, even though he’s on four, will have to play a big one tonight.

Alex Barré-Boulet, as we saw coming in the last few days, managed to break into the top-9. He’s lining up with Christian Dvorak and Josh Anderson for his first game with the Canadiens.

Note that he will be the only player making his debut with the Habs. All the other players on the roster have played at least one game in a Flannel uniform before. Heineman and Lane Hutson don’t have much under their ties, however.

Defensively, no debate: Jayden Struble’s injury, which is obviously day-to-day, forces Martin St-Louis to use his six healthy defensemen. This was expected.

And the guys were motivated by Stéphane Robidas, who asked them “why not us” during practice.

Habs meet up in the middle of the ice at morning skate, break with D coach Stephane Robidas saying, “Why not us? Why not now?”

– Eric Engels (@EricEngels) October 9, 2024