Martin St-Louis is shaking up the Canadiens’ lineup for tonight’s meeting with the Sabres, and the changes run through all three areas of the ice.
Jacob Fowler gets the start in goal, while David Reinbacher and Oliver Kapanen are both drawing in. That means Jakub Dobes, Adam Engstrom and Beck are coming out.
The move in net is the clearest one to read. Fowler has posted a .906 save percentage in three games, while Dobes sits at .842 through four appearances. The numbers line up with St-Louis’ choice.
Reinbacher’s return is also a notable one. According to Renaud Lavoie, he’ll skate alongside Arber Xhekaj. The young defenseman was recalled from Laval and had been waiting since Tuesday for a chance to get into the lineup.
Kapanen is back after spending several days skating in Brossard once he was placed on the injured list. This will be his first game of the season, and he steps right into the second line, where the Canadiens have needed help.
Alex Newhook had been handling that role, and he has four points in seven games with a -2 rating. Kapanen gives St-Louis another center option, though the exact line combination is still unclear.
Engstrom, 22, is also out, but this isn’t being framed as a demotion. He has played four games for Montreal, has no points, and owns a +2 rating. The opening just went to another defenseman.
Montreal enters at 3-3-1 and is giving up 3.9 goals per game. Buffalo arrives at 4-3-1 and will be without Rasmus Dahlin.
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