Canadiens Prepare for Blackhawks as Veleno and Struble Remain Out

The Montreal Canadiens are set to face the Chicago Blackhawks tonight in Chicago, marking their final road game before returning to the Bell Centre for their home opener. Currently, the Canadiens hold a record of 1-1-0 after a defeat against the Toronto Maple Leafs and a resounding victory over the Detroit Red Wings. With the opportunity to improve their record tonight, the team is expected to maintain its lineup despite the absence of both Joe Veleno and Jayden Struble in prior games.

During this morning’s practice, Veleno and Struble were again designated as extras, with no changes made to the existing trios and duos. This indicates that both players will likely remain out of the lineup as the Canadiens aim to capitalize on their momentum following a strong performance against the Red Wings. Coach Martin St-Louis appears to prefer sticking with a winning formula, even though both Veleno and Struble have shown they deserve game time.

In net, Samuel Montembeault is expected to start, despite Jakub Dobes delivering an impressive performance in the previous match. Montembeault, recognized as the primary goaltender for the Canadiens, will likely see significant playing time given that the team has at least one day of rest between each of their next six games. His role as the number one goaltender remains unquestioned as he prepares for the challenge against the Blackhawks.

Blackhawks Lineup and Injury Updates

The Chicago Blackhawks are also preparing for their home opener tonight. The team’s lineup features notable players, including Kirby Dach and Connor Bedard, who will be leading the first line. The complete lineup for the Blackhawks includes:

– Dach-Bedard-Burakovsky
– Teräväinen-Nazar-Bertuzzi
– Donato-Greene-Mikheyev
– Foligno-Reichel-Lafferty

On the defensive side, the pairing includes Vlasic-Rinzel, Kaiser-Levshunov, and Grzelcyk-Murphy. Notably, Jason Dickinson was absent from the morning skate, raising questions about his availability for the game.

Injury updates have emerged from around the league, with Vincent Trocheck being listed as week-to-week and Josh Norris facing a significant recovery period due to upper-body injuries. These developments could impact the Blackhawks as they navigate through their early season challenges.

As the Canadiens prepare to take on the Blackhawks, anticipation builds for a competitive matchup. Both teams are eager to secure a victory that will bolster their standings early in the season. Fans can expect a dynamic game as the puck drops tonight at United Center.