Primeau was the backup goalie behind Jakub Dobes after Sam Montembeault (groin) sustained an injury in Game 3 versus Washington. Despite a 20-save shutout by Jacob Fowler in a 4-0 win over AHL Cleveland on Friday, Primeau could return to the crease in the Calder Cup Playoffs. The 25-year-old Primeau was sensational with Laval in the regular season, going 21-2-2 with a 1.96 GAA and a .927 save percentage across 26 appearances.
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Canadiens' Oliver Kapanen: Sent to AHL
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Kapanen was reassigned to AHL Laval on Saturday.
The 21-year-old center had two assists across 18 regular-season games with the Canadiens and chipped in with an assist in three playoff games versus Washington. Kapanen spent most of the season with Timra IK of the Swedish Hockey League, where he registered 15 goals and 20 assists in 36 regular-season games.
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Canadiens' Sam Montembeault: Suffered groin tear
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Montembeault missed the last two playoff games after sustaining a groin tear, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports Friday.
Given this update, Montembeault was likely facing an extended stint on the shelf even if the Habs had managed to advance to the next round. During the regular season, the 28-year-old backstop went 31-24-7 with a career-best 2.82 GAA, four shutouts and a .901 save percentage. Montembeault will likely see a similar heavy usage in 2025-26 as the Canadiens' No. 1 netminder.
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Canadiens' Patrik Laine: Suffered broken finger
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Laine missed the last three games of Montreal's first-round series versus Washington due to a broken finger, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports Friday.
Laine suffered the injury in Game 2 and labored the remainder of the contest before sitting out the rest of the series. Laine had 20 goals and 13 assists in 52 regular-season games, including 15 goals on the power play. Laine is expected to be fully recovered before the start of training camp in September.
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Canadiens' Oliver Kapanen: Grabs first playoff helper
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Kapanen notched an assist and two hits in Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Capitals in Game 5.
Kapanen played in the last three playoff games after Patrik Laine (upper body) ended the postseason on the shelf. The 21-year-old Kapanen had just two assists in 18 regular-season outings. He'll enter training camp with a chance to win a job on the Opening Night roster for 2025-26, but it wouldn't be surprising if Kapanen needed some time with AHL Laval to hone his skills after spending the bulk of 2024-25 with Timra IK of the SHL.
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Canadiens' Emil Heineman: Scores lone goal in loss
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Heineman scored a goal on two shots and added two hits in Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Capitals in Game 5.
Heineman's tally early in the third period spared the Canadiens a shutout loss, but it didn't spark a rally. The 23-year-old had 18 points, 64 shots on net, 173 hits and a minus-6 rating over 62 regular-season outings before adding one goal, four shots, 16 hits and four blocked shots over five playoff games. Heineman is a restricted free agent this summer and will be in the mix for a bottom-six role heading into 2025-26.
Canadiens' Jakub Dobes: Falls to Caps to end season
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Dobes stopped 24 of 27 shots Wednesday in the Canadiens' 4-1 loss to the Capitals in Game 5 of their first-round series, with Washington's final goal getting scored into an empty net.
Two of the pucks that beat Dobes came on Washington power plays, and the Habs' offense didn't even get on the board until the third period. Sam Montembeault (lower body) has solidified his spot at the top of the depth chart for Montreal, but Dobes held his own in his first taste of the NHL, going 7-4-3 during 16 regular-season outings with a 2.74 GAA and .909 save percentage. The 23-year-old Dobes should head into 2025-26 as the Canadiens' No. 2 netminder.
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Canadiens' David Savard: Retirement official
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Savard retired from the NHL after Wednesday's 4-1 loss to the Capitals in Game 5.
Savard played in 870 regular-season games and 62 playoff contests between the Blue Jackets, Lightning and Canadiens. The defenseman previously announced his retirement would come at the end of Montreal's playoff run. The 34-year-old accumulated 54 goals and 188 assists in the regular season as well as 17 points in the playoffs during his career.
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Canadiens' Alexandre Carrier: On track to play
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Carrier (undisclosed) took warmups in his usual top-pairing spot, indicating he's expected to play in Wednesday's Game 5 versus the Capitals, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports.
Carrier was hurt in Sunday's Game 4, but it appears the two days off between games gave him enough time to be ready. He didn't practice Tuesday, but he was labeled a game-time decision Wednesday and looked fine in warmups. Carrier has a goal and an assist over the first four postseason contests.
Canadiens' Alexandre Carrier: Considered game-time decision
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Carrier (undisclosed) is considered a game-time decision for Wednesday's Game 5 against Washington, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.
Carrier sustained an injury during Sunday's Game 4 loss, and he missed Tuesday's practice session. The team will presumably wait to see how he feels during Wednesday's warmups before determining his status. Over the first four games of the series, he's recorded a goal, an assist, 11 blocked shots and seven hits while averaging 20:07 of ice time.
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Canadiens' Patrik Laine: Won't return Wednesday
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Laine (upper body) will miss Game 5 against Washington on Wednesday, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.
Laine is set to miss his third straight game. He had 20 goals and 33 points across 52 regular-season appearances in 2024-25. Montreal is down 3-1 in its first-round series, so the Canadiens need to win in order to force a Game 6 on Friday. If that happens, then perhaps Laine will be an option for that game.
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Canadiens' Jakub Dobes: In goal for Game 5
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Dobes will get the starting nod on the road against Washington in Game 5 on Wednesday, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports.
Dobes gave up three goals on 24 shots (.875 save percentage) in Game 4, and he will likely need to improve those numbers if the Habs are going to avoid elimination Wednesday. The 23-year-old backstop has limited experience, having played in just 16 regular-season NHL games this year in which he went 7-4-3 with a 2.74 GAA and one shutout.
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Canadiens' Sam Montembeault: Unavailable for Game 5
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Montembeault (lower body) won't be available for Wednesday's Game 5 on the road against Washington, Eric Engels of Sportsnet reports.
Montembeault sustained a lower-body injury in Game 3, and he'll be unavailable for a second consecutive matchup Wednesday. Jakub Dobes has been named Montreal's starter for Wednesday's game, while Montembeault isn't with the team in Washington, so Cayden Primeau will dress as the No. 2 netminder.
Laine (upper body) is still day-to-day, per Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette on Tuesday.
Laine practiced Tuesday after missing the last two outings, but it's unclear if he will play in Wednesday's must-win matchup with the Capitals. He had one assist and six shots on goal in two appearances before getting hurt. If Laine is unavailable for Game 5, Oliver Kapanen and Michael Pezzetta are on hand as potential replacements.
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Canadiens' Sam Montembeault: Questionable for Game 5
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Montembeault (lower body) remains day-to-day in the lead up to Wednesday's Game 5 clash with Washington, Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette reports.
Montembeault put up decent numbers in his three postseason appearances, registering a 2.76 GAA and a .908 save percentage despite failing to record a victory. Barring a surprise recovery, Montembeault seems unlikely to guard the cage for Game 5, which would leave the crease open for Jakub Dobes, who started Game 4.
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Canadiens' Alexandre Carrier: Day-to-day ahead of Game 5
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Carrier (undisclosed) is considered day-to-day and won't practice Tuesday.
Carrier struggled to produce for much of April but has picked up three points in his last five outings. In his 51 regular-season appearances for the Habs, he managed 18 points, which, when combined with his seven points with Nashville, gets him to the 20-point threshold for the third time in the last four years.
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