Matheson, Kapanen miss practice as internal battle heats up: Canadiens evening report

The biggest storyline around the Montreal Canadiens on Monday wasn’t a game result but what happened — and who wasn’t there — at practice, with lineup battles clearly heating up as a divisional rival comes to town.

Matheson, Kapanen absent from Monday’s practice

La Presse reports that defenceman Mike Matheson and forward Oliver Kapanen were both absent from the Canadiens’ Monday practice. No further details are given, but both are notable figures in the current roster structure, so their absence on the eve of a game naturally raises eyebrows.

La Presse also focuses on Jake Evans, describing his situation as being shaped by unfavourable "circumstances" and suggesting it would be easy to sum it up with a meme. That paints the picture of a centre in a tough spot, even if the precise reasons behind it are not laid out.

St. Louis, Hughes crank up internal competition

Sportsnet highlights how head coach Martin St. Louis and general manager Kent Hughes are actively stoking internal competition. According to their report, battles are intensifying across the Canadiens’ lineup, with players being kept on notice as roles and ice time are contested.

From a special-teams standpoint, The Hockey Writers notes that the Canadiens still have plenty of work to do, despite a narrow 1-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night. That victory, earned in what the outlet calls peculiar circumstances, doesn’t change the assessment that both the power play and penalty kill remain significant projects.

Sabres visit as Habs sit 7th in Atlantic

Next up, the Buffalo Sabres visit the Bell Centre on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Montreal time. Through five games, the Canadiens are 2-2-1, with 5 points and a hold on 7th place in the Atlantic Division. With divisional points at stake and roster spots seemingly under pressure, how fringe players and those in difficult situations respond against Buffalo will be closely watched.