Carrier (upper body) participated in Friday's practice session on the second defensive pairing, Marc Antoine Godin of Radio-Canada reports. Carrier has been sidelined since late March due to his upper-body injury, and he was initially expected to miss 2-4 weeks. He's reached the short range of that threshold, and his participation in Friday's practice signals that he could return to action for the start of postseason play. However, the Canadiens haven't yet revealed his status for Sunday's Game 1 against the Lightning.
Heavy on Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens news, rumors, and information.
Unlock the latest Montreal Canadiens news — direct to your inbox.
Montreal Canadiens
NHL Atlantic
(24-13-6, 3rd place)
Top Stories from Heavy on Canadiens
Latest Canadiens News Alerts
More from Heavy on Canadiens
More from Heavy on Canadiens
Canadiens schedule 2024
Canadiens Injury Report
Canadiens Roster
Updated 3 weeks ago
| CENTERS | Shoots | HT | WT | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Owen Beck 62
|
R | 6'0" | 199 | 21 |
Kirby Dach 77
IR
|
R | 6'4" | 221 | 24 |
Phillip Danault 24
|
L | 6'1" | 200 | 32 |
Jake Evans 71
IR
|
R | 6'0" | 190 | 29 |
Oliver Kapanen 91
|
R | 6'2" | 194 | 22 |
Alex Newhook 15
IR
|
L | 5'11" | 200 | 24 |
Nick Suzuki 14
|
R | 5'11" | 207 | 26 |
Joe Veleno 90
|
L | 6'1" | 201 | 25 |
| LEFT WINGS | Shoots | HT | WT | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Samuel Blais 27
|
L | 6'2" | 206 | 29 |
Juraj Slafkovský 20
|
L | 6'3" | 225 | 21 |
Alexandre Texier 85
|
L | 6'1" | 196 | 26 |
|
Florian Xhekaj 63
|
L | 6'3" | 195 | 21 |
| RIGHT WINGS | Shoots | HT | WT | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Josh Anderson 17
|
R | 6'3" | 226 | 31 |
Zachary Bolduc 76
|
L | 6'0" | 187 | 22 |
Cole Caufield 13
|
R | 5'8" | 175 | 25 |
|
Ivan Demidov 93
|
L | 6'1" | 192 | 20 |
Brendan Gallagher 11
|
R | 5'9" | 185 | 33 |
Patrik Laine 92
IR
|
R | 6'4" | 208 | 27 |
| DEFENSE | Shoots | HT | WT | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Alexandre Carrier 45
|
R | 5'11" | 174 | 29 |
Noah Dobson 53
|
R | 6'4" | 200 | 26 |
Kaiden Guhle 21
IR
|
L | 6'3" | 202 | 23 |
Lane Hutson 48
|
L | 5'9" | 162 | 21 |
Mike Matheson 8
|
L | 6'2" | 196 | 31 |
David Savard 58
|
R | 6'1" | 235 | 35 |
Jayden Struble 47
|
L | 6'0" | 207 | 24 |
Arber Xhekaj 72
|
L | 6'4" | 240 | 24 |
| GOALIES | Shoots | HT | WT | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Jakub Dobes 75
|
L | 6'4" | 215 | 24 |
|
Jacob Fowler 32
|
L | 6'1" | 223 | 21 |
Samuel Montembeault 35
|
L | 6'3" | 218 | 29 |
Carrier (upper body) participated in Friday's practice session on the second defensive pairing, Marc Antoine Godin of Radio-Canada reports. Carrier has been sidelined since late March due to his upper-body injury, and he was initially expected to miss 2-4 weeks. He's reached the short range of that threshold, and his participation in Friday's practice signals that he could return to action for the start of postseason play. However, the Canadiens haven't yet revealed his status for Sunday's Game 1 against the Lightning.
Matheson (rest) was back at practice Thursday after missing the final regular-season game Tuesday, per Eric Engels of Sportsnet. Matheson had seven goals, 30 assists, 59 hits and 150 blocked shots in 78 regular-season games in 2025-26. He should see plenty of playing time in the playoffs, as a first-unit defenseman. He averaged 24:10 of ice time this season, the most among Montreal rearguards.
Anderson (rest) practiced Thursday and is on track to play in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs this weekend, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports. Anderson sat out the final game of the regular season Tuesday. He finished the season with 14 goals, nine assist, 129 hits and 43 blocked shots over 72 games. He practiced on the fourth line, alongside Phillip Danault and Jake Evans, his likely role in the postseason.
Danault (rest) was on the ice for Thursday's practice session, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports. After sitting out the regular-season finale, Danault was back in his usual fourth-line role ahead of the Habs' first-round series versus the Lightning. It's been an underwhelming 2025-26 campaign for the 33-year-old winger, as he managed just 12 points in 45 games for Montreal, giving him a combined 17 points this year. That's well off the 40-plus points he registered in each of the prior four campaigns.
Veleno notched an assist and five hits in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Flyers. Veleno has been in and out of the lineup frequently this season. His helper ended a 21-game point drought dating back to his assist in a Jan. 8 game versus the Panthers. He ends the regular season with five points, 52 shots on net, 166 hits, 32 blocked shots and a minus-12 rating over 61 appearances. Veleno will likely continue to be a part-time option in the postseason.
Texier logged an assist and two PIM in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Flyers. This was his first point in five games since he returned from missing seven contests due to a lower-body injury. His point drought was a total of 10 games. The 26-year-old has often filled a middle-six role this season, but it'll be interesting to see if he can stick in the lineup in the playoffs. With the Blues last year, he played in just three of seven postseason games. Texier has 21 points, 74 shots on net, 65 hits, 26 PIM and a plus-9 rating over 51 regular-season outings this season.
Evans scored a goal Tuesday in a 4-2 loss to the Flyers. Evans scored on a rebound with 11 seconds left in the second to make the score 3-2, but the Habs were unable to carry that momentum forward and into the third period. The goal was Evans' first in 12 games (two assists). Montreal will travel to Tampa Bay to start their first-round matchup Saturday. Evans is a bottom-six forward who may see time in the press box given the strength of the lineup.
Gallagher scored a goal Tuesday in a 4-2 loss to the Flyers. Gallagher was back in the lineup after being scratched for the previous four games. The goal was his first since Feb. 4 and his seventh in 77 games this season (23 points). There's no guarantee that the aging winger will dress to start the playoffs. However, Gallagher is one of the playoff veterans on a young team. He has played 76 career postseason games, scoring 13 goals and adding 20 assists.
April 12
Player |
Transaction |
|---|---|
|
The Montreal Canadiens recalled D David Reinbacher from the minors.
|