Fantasy Hockey News

Alexandre Carrier scored a goal, blocked two shots, and registered a plus-2 rating in Thursday's 5-1 victory over the Red Wings. The defenseman's second-period tally extended Montreal's lead to 4-1.

Fantasy Impact: Carrier is a defense-first blueliner who is expected to have a reduced role this season following the offseason acquisition of Noah Dobson. While he is capable of chipping in offensively and has topped 20 points in three of the last four seasons, his primary contributions don't always show up on the scoresheet. His limited offensive upside makes him a non-factor in most standard fantasy formats.

Brendan Gallagher contributed two assists, four PIM, and a plus-2 rating in Thursday's 5-1 win over the Red Wings.

Fantasy Impact: Gallagher is off to a nice start with three assists through the first two games of the season. The veteran winger is skating in a middle-six role and is coming off a solid 21-goal, 38-point campaign. While he hasn't reached the 40-point mark since 2019-20, an improved Canadiens roster could provide a better offensive environment for him. He's a viable streaming option or depth forward in deeper fantasy leagues.

Dvorak scored one of Montreal’s three goals, finishing with two shots on net and a plus-1 rating in 14:43 of ice time. He added three hits to his stat line and won 12 of 19 faceoffs (63.2%), showcasing a strong two-way effort despite the loss.

Fantasy Impact: Dvorak continues to provide a mix of faceoff proficiency and occasional scoring. He may not offer elite offensive totals, but his dependable play in the middle can help managers looking for help in the dot. In deeper leagues, he can be a serviceable option, particularly when he’s seeing middle-six minutes and power-play time.

Joel Armia found the back of the net while shorthanded in Tuesday’s 4-3 victory over San Jose. The veteran winger has now tallied two shorthanded goals in as many games to begin February, already surpassing his goal total from January. Armia skated on the third line Tuesday as part of Montreal’s shuffled forward combinations.

Fantasy Impact: Armia continues to provide sneaky value in deeper formats with his special-teams production, contributing three shorthanded and three power-play points this season. While his overall scoring remains modest at 10 goals and 24 points through 53 games, his versatility and middle-six role offer occasional fantasy streaming appeal, particularly in leagues that reward shorthanded scoring.

Jake Evans recorded a shorthanded assist in Tuesday’s 4-3 victory over San Jose, setting up Joel Armia for the second straight game. With two points in as many outings this month, Evans has already matched his offensive output from January.

Fantasy Impact: Evans has emerged as a shorthanded threat, tying for the league lead with six shorthanded points alongside Sam Reinhart, Anthony Cirelli, and Brandon Hagel. Despite his strong defensive presence, his 11 goals and 16 assists across 53 games limit his fantasy appeal to deeper leagues. However, his ability to rack up shorthanded production makes him a sneaky asset in formats that reward special teams contributions.

Kaiden Guhle found the back of the net on three shots while adding two blocked shots and a hit in the Canadiens' 4-2 loss to the Red Wings on Thursday.

Fantasy Impact: Guhle's wrist shot from the point marked his fourth goal of the season and snapped an eight-game goal drought. The young defenseman continues to contribute across multiple categories, providing steady peripheral stats alongside occasional offensive production. While his fantasy appeal is limited to deeper leagues, Guhle’s ability to chip in blocks and hits makes him a serviceable depth option on the blue line.