Juraj Slafkovsky’s absence was the biggest eyebrow-raiser at Canadiens practice Friday, but Martin St-Louis didn’t sound worried about his winger’s status for Saturday’s meeting with the Buffalo Sabres.
Montreal was back on the ice after Thursday’s day off, and while Oliver Kapanen’s return as a full participant was a welcome development, Slafkovsky was missing altogether. The team described it as a therapy day, and St-Louis later said Slafkovsky would be available against Buffalo. Even so, the timing naturally invites questions after Slafkovsky’s collision with Tom Wilson in Wednesday night’s game.
The Canadiens also got more bad health news elsewhere in the room. Florian Xhekaj is set to miss two weeks because of a lower-body injury, while Mike Matheson remains day-to-day. There was no fresh update on Ivan Demidov or Samuel Montembeault, who are still sidelined.
With the Heritage Classic against the Winnipeg Jets a little more than a week away, the Canadiens are also in the middle of getting their look ready for game day. Players were testing out new gear to match the vintage style of the jerseys they’ll wear, including Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler, who were spotted in new pads, gloves, and blockers.
Montembeault’s timeline remains something to watch, especially since he was said to be out for 10 to 14 days a week ago. St-Louis said he still hasn’t made a decision on who will start in goal Saturday, a choice that stands out because, based on performance alone, Fowler has looked like the clear favorite after Dobes’ struggles since game two of the season.
St-Louis was also asked about the first line’s lack of five-on-five production, and he said the group’s foundation is still there.
"Their commitment to play a 200-foot game is there; I think they’re just missing a bit of swagger. With players like these, that starts with the power play.
If you're clean on the power play and produce on the man advantage, it helps you feel confident offensively at even strength, and I’m confident that will come. But what I like from the first line is their commitment to the 200-foot game; we know the rest is there.
They know they want more offensively, but they’re not taking any shortcuts to get it; that’s what you need from your players."
The top unit dealt with similar even-strength scoring issues in the playoffs, though St-Louis believes they’re operating from a stronger place now. The lines and pairings stayed intact Friday, with Kapanen stepping into Slafkovsky’s spot on the top line for practice.
All eyes now turn to Saturday: whether Slafkovsky is back in the lineup, and which goaltender St-Louis chooses for the Sabres.
In Other News...
Canadiens Forward Injury Could Force A Lineup Decision Soon
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For Owen Beck, the timing could be beneficial. What was shaping up as a short stay with the Canadiens may now stretch a bit longer as the club works around multiple absences among its forwards, giving the coaching staff one more roster question to answer while Xhekaj recovers. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Keep Creating Chances But Still Look Exposed In Atlantic Race
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Josh Anderson and Zachary Bolduc have been among the brighter spots, helping keep the offense afloat while the rest of the group looks for a sharper edge. Even so, the bigger issue remains whether Montreal can keep creating this volume of chances and start turning them into goals before the standings gap begins to widen. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Dachs Canadiens Role Just Turned Into A Bigger Roster Question
Kirby Dachs start with the Canadiens has already become a bigger talking point than anyone in Montreal likely expected. Through seven games, he has managed only one assist and a minus-4 rating, and the reduced ice time has sent him sliding to the fourth line as the club continues to sort through its early-season lineup and roster balance.
What makes the situation more notable is that his name is no longer being framed only around on-ice production. Reports have suggested a trade is becoming a more realistic possibility, with other teams showing interest as Montreal weighs its options. For a player still in the middle of establishing his place with the Canadiens, that kind of attention adds another layer to an already uneasy stretch. [Read more 🡒]