Montreal Canadiens Prepare for Ottawa Senators Matchup After 4 Nations Face-Off

Image credits: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

The Montreal Canadiens are gearing up to take on the Ottawa Senators in their upcoming matchup, following a brief break that saw several players participate in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. Goaltender Samuel Montembeault, who was part of Team Canada's squad but did not play, will start in goal for the Canadiens. Montembeault has not played in two weeks, but head coach Martin St. Louis believes he will be "hungry to play" after being part of the national team's environment.

Meanwhile, winger Emil Heineman is expected to return to the lineup after missing 14 games due to injury. Heineman skated with the team during practice and worked with his regular linemates, Jake Evans and Joel Armia. His return is seen as a significant boost to the team, as they have struggled in his absence. "We lost him and you can see how valuable he is to our group," said Brendan Gallagher. "He really balances out our four lines. He does a lot for us." Heineman's linemates have also struggled without him, with Evans held to one goal and four points, and Armia doing slightly better with three goals and five points.

The Canadiens have struggled recently, with only one victory in their last nine games. However, the break is seen as a good opportunity for the team to reset and regain their energy. "I think it was a good reset at a good time," said defenceman Mike Matheson. "I feel we had a long stretch of a lot of travel and games. If you look at it realistically, I think we were a little tired towards the end." The team will be looking to bounce back against the Senators, with confidence and energy being key factors in their performance. The Senators will be looking to rebound from their loss to Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, and the matchup is expected to be a closely contested one.

In other news, the Canadiens recently held an exclusive fundraising event at the Casino, with all players in attendance except Samuel Montembeault. The event was hosted by captain Nick Suzuki and his fiancée Caitlin Fitzgerald, and raised funds for the Montreal Canadiens Children's Foundation. The team had a day off for the event, but will be back to work with a practice at the Bell Centre. The practice will be the team's first with all of its skaters, and it will be interesting to see what Martin St-Louis' lineup will look like. The team will also be looking to integrate new players into the lineup, including Heineman, and to find a winning combination.

The upcoming matchup against the Senators will be a crucial one for the Canadiens, as they look to regain their footing in the playoff race. The team will need to be at the top of their game, with solid defense and consistent offense. The Senators will be a tough opponent, but the Canadiens are looking to come out on top. Here are the key stats for the Canadiens' upcoming matchup:

• Match score: TBD
• Player statistics:
  • Samuel Montembeault: 18-21-3 record, 3.00 average, .897 save percentage
  • Emil Heineman: 10 goals, 17 points in 41 games
• Tournament schedule:
  • 4 Nations Face-Off: completed
  • Upcoming games: Ottawa Senators (away), TBD