Canadiens lean on Slafkovsky at home while Reinbacher gets big test vs. Senators

Split-squad night as Canadiens finish pre-season vs. Senators

The Montreal Canadiens close out their exhibition schedule with a split-squad showdown against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, with both games starting at 7 p.m. ET. The Bell Centre matchup is available on RDS in the Canadiens’ region, while the meeting in Kanata is carried on TSN5 for Senators viewers.

Montreal heads into this final tune-up without two of its most gifted young players. Ivan Demidov has missed recent practices after taking a shot off his foot, and Lane Hutson will also sit out. With that skill removed from the lineup, the Canadiens are expected to lean into a style that mirrors Ottawa’s heavier, more direct approach.

On home ice, Juraj Slafkovsky is being handed a prominent role. He will skate with Alex Newhook and Phillip Danault in a scoring assignment, while the top line reunites Chris Kreider with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield after a night off earlier in the week. Further down the roster, Florian Xhekaj and Owen Beck get what could be their last chance to impress management in front of the Bell Centre crowd before final cuts are made.

The blue line in Montreal should be led by Mike Matheson and Noah Dobson, supported by pairings that include Luke Mittelstadt, Alexandre Carrier, Maksymilian Szuber and Ethan Samson. In goal, Jacob Fowler is projected to start with Samuel Montembeault backing up, giving the rookie netminder a significant opportunity in the final pre-season outing.

Reinbacher, Xhekaj and Struble under the microscope in Kanata

In Kanata, the Canadiens are icing a group built largely from players expected to see time in the AHL. Up front, the most eye-catching unit features Zachary Bolduc, Oliver Kapanen and Kirby Dach, offering a late-camp look at how an established NHL centre can drive play alongside two offensive prospects.

The main storyline, however, is on defence. Jayden Struble, Arber Xhekaj, Adam Engstrom and David Reinbacher are all slated for substantial minutes in what amounts to a crucial evaluation game. They will face something close to Ottawa’s opening-night roster, featuring names like Tim Stutzle and Thomas Chabot, which should provide a demanding test in their own zone.

Jakub Dobes is expected to get the nod in net for Montreal with Kaapo Kahkonen in reserve, while Linus Ullmark is listed as the projected starter for the Senators. How the Canadiens’ young defenders handle Ottawa’s pressure, manage rebounds and limit high-danger looks will help shape decisions on who starts the season in Montreal and who heads to the farm team when rosters are finalized.