The Canadiens are turning to David Reinbacher at exactly the moment their defense needs help.
Montreal officially recalled the blueliner from the Laval Rocket on Wednesday, only a few hours after Martin St-Louis confirmed that Mike Matheson is hurt and listed day-to-day.
“The Canadiens have recalled defenseman David Reinbacher from the Laval Rocket.”
That move comes with a pretty clear backdrop. Matheson logged 23:01 against Detroit on Saturday, and he hasn’t been on the ice since. With him out, the Canadiens are down to six healthy defensemen: Lane Hutson, Alexandre Carrier, Noah Dobson, Kaiden Guhle, Adam Engstrom and Arber Xhekaj.
Reinbacher’s arrival also puts a spotlight on Engstrom after a shaky night against Buffalo. The 22-year-old played 13:22 in that game and finished minus-1. He also sent the puck into his own net on the Sabres’ first goal, and maybe their second too.
Engstrom has gone without a point through three games this season, though he did finish plus-1 in each of his first two appearances. Tuesday’s outing doesn’t erase everything he has shown, but it does leave Montreal with another reason to look elsewhere for stability.
That’s where Reinbacher comes in. His recall gives St-Louis another option on a blue line that is starting to thin out. It’s still not clear whether he’ll dress or exactly where he’d fit if he does, but the opportunity is there.
For Reinbacher, this is a shot to show what he can do at the NHL level. For Montreal, it’s another attempt to patch a defense that has been asked to do too much. The Canadiens are 3-2-1, have won their last two games, and are still giving up 3.7 goals per game.
They’ll be back in action tonight against the Washington Capitals, and Reinbacher’s possible debut gives the matchup one more thing to watch.
In Other News...
Canadiens Interest In Dylan Larkin Comes Down To One Big Thing
Dylan Larkins situation in Detroit remains one of the more closely watched storylines around the league, and it has obvious appeal for a Canadiens front office still looking for a meaningful swing. He has not rescinded his trade request from the Red Wings and is still interested in being moved this season, while his no-movement clause gives him control over where this goes next. Reports have him open to about ten teams, a group that includes several contenders and a few clubs with clear cap space or roster flexibility.
Montreal has shown serious interest, which makes sense for a team that would love to add a player of Larkins caliber if the opportunity ever materializes. The catch is simple: he is not currently open to playing there, even though the Canadiens are said to be willing to put together a significant offer if that stance changes. For now, it is less a full-blown pursuit than a waiting game, with Montreal keeping tabs on a possibility that may depend on one big shift in Larkins thinking. [Read more 🡒]
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Montreals penalty killers handled every Buffalo man advantage in the game, and the recent trend now matters as much as the result itself. The Canadiens have strung together a run of successful kills over their last two games, a welcome answer after early-season trouble with power-play goals against had put extra pressure on the rest of the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Ivan Demidov Now Faces An Off Ice Problem Canadiens Fans Didn't Expect
Ivan Demidovs off-ice adjustment in Montreal has taken an unexpectedly awkward turn, with the Canadiens forward now dealing with a pair of speeding violations while operating on a probationary license. The situation is delicate because the license comes with very limited room for error, and a second infraction has put his driving status in jeopardy as the legal process plays out.
A lawyer has already filed a motion to undo the payment of the second ticket, and Demidovs guilty plea withdrawal has been approved, keeping him behind the wheel for now until municipal court issues its ruling. The case has even touched the Canadiens own player security department, with Mitch Janhevich initially handling the ticket as a routine matter, but the bigger question is still hanging over Demidov as he waits for the courts next move. [Read more 🡒]