The Montreal Canadiens are heading into Wednesday night's matchup against the Utah Mammoth with significant lineup changes that signal a potential shift in team dynamics. Czech goaltender Jakub Dobes will start his fourth consecutive game, solidifying his position as the team's primary netminder, while Swedish defenceman Adam Engstrom will make his NHL debut.
Dobes Seizes Starting Goaltender Role
Jakub Dobes's consistent performance between the pipes has earned him the trust of the coaching staff, marking his third start in Montreal's last four games. The 24-year-old Czech native enters the contest with an impressive 7-2-2 record, complemented by a 2.88 goals-against average and .895 save percentage.
Dobes's ascent comes amid struggles for fellow goaltender Samuel Montembeault, who sports a 4-5-1 record with a 3.71 GAA and .852 save percentage. The changing of the guard became particularly evident when Dobes replaced Montembeault during last Thursday's 8-4 loss to Washington after the latter surrendered three goals on just ten shots.
The Canadiens are riding momentum from Dobes's 24-save performance in Saturday's 5-2 victory over Toronto, which snapped a five-game losing streak (0-4-1) for the club.
Rookie Defenceman Makes Long-Awaited Debut
Swedish blue-liner Adam Engstrom will dress for his first NHL game Wednesday night, replacing Arber Xhekaj in the lineup. The Canadiens recalled the 22-year-old from the AHL's Laval Rocket on Sunday following an outstanding performance that saw him record one goal and four assists in Laval's 7-2 rout of Belleville on Saturday.
Engstrom has demonstrated significant development during his time with the Rocket, accumulating 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists) and a plus-8 rating through 18 AHL contests. Montreal originally selected the Swedish native in the third round (92nd overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft.
Engstrom is projected to skate on the third defensive pairing alongside Alexandre Carrier, providing fresh legs to Montreal's blue line as the team continues to navigate the absence of Kaiden Guhle, who suffered a torn adductor muscle on October 16.
Playoff Positioning and Upcoming Schedule
The Canadiens enter Wednesday's contest with an 11-7-3 record, placing them tied for fifth in the highly competitive Atlantic Division. Montreal sits just three points behind division-leading Tampa Bay (13-7-2) while holding a valuable game in hand.
This represents significant improvement from last season, when the Canadiens were 7-11-3 through 21 games before eventually securing their first playoff berth in four years. The team currently holds an eight-point advantage over their performance at the same juncture last season.
Following Wednesday's matchup, Montreal will travel to Las Vegas to face the Golden Knights on Friday before concluding their three-game road trip Saturday in Denver against the Avalanche.
The Mammoth present a formidable challenge, particularly on home ice where they've compiled a 7-2-1 record this season. Utah currently occupies fourth place in the Central Division with a 12-8-3 overall mark.
