Montreal Canadiens

Ivan Demidov recorded one assist in the Canadiens' 3-2 win over the Rangers Thurssday night.

Fantasy Impact: Demidov has caught fire in the offensive zone, registering points in five of his last six games (two goals, five assists) for the Canadiens. The 20-year-old continues to offer head coach Martin St. Louis one of the more dynamic offensive options as part of a deep Montreal lineup, posting 59 points (16 goals, 43 assists) in 75 games so far this season.

Juraj Slafkovsky notched one assist in the Canadiens' 3-2 win over the Rangers Thursday night.

Fantasy Impact: Slafkovsky continues an impactful stretch in the offensive zone, registering points in 10 of his last 12 games (six goals, nine assists) for the Canadiens. The 22-year-old continues to provide head coach Martin St. Louis with another impactful offensive option in the Montreal lineup, picking up 67 points (29 goals, 38 assists) in 75 games so far this season.

Cole Caufield was able to light the lamp for the Canadiens Thursday night, scoring two goals in a 3-2 win over the Rangers.

Fantasy Impact: Caufield continues a torrid stretch in the offensive zone, tallying points in 10 of his last 11 games (12 goals, seven assists) for the Canadiens. The winger continues to offer head coach Martin St. Louis one of the more explosive offensive options in the Montreal lineup, carrying a 1.12 point per game average (49 goals, 34 assists) in 74 games so far this season.

Nick Suzuki posted two assists in the Canadiens' 3-2 win over the Rangers Thursday night.

Fantasy Impact: Suzuki continues a scorching stretch in the offensive zone, tallying points in 11 of his last 12 games (six goals, 14 assists) for the Canadiens. The 26-year-old continues to reward fantasy managers with one of the more explosive offensive options in the Montreal lineup, carrying a 1.25 point per game average (27 goals, 67 assists) in 75 games so far this season.

Noah Dobson posted one assist in the Canadiens' 3-2 win over the Golden Knights Tuesday night.

Fantasy Impact: Dobson has offered mixed results in the offensive zone of late, registering points in three of his last six games (three assists) for the Canadiens. The 26-year-old remains one of many impactful offensive options from the Montreal blueline, picking up 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists) in 53 games so far this season.

Lane Hutson posted one assist in the Canadiens' 4-3 loss to the Bruins Saturday night.

Fantasy Impact: Hutson continues an impactful stretch in the offensive zone, picking up points in eight of his last 11 games (three goals, 10 assists) for the Canadiens. The 21-year-old continues to reward fantasy managers with one of many dynamic offensive options from the Montreal blueline, tallying a 1.02 point per game average (nine goals, 44 assists) in 52 games so far this season.

Alexandre Texier was able to tickle the twine for the Canadiens Thursday night, scoring three goals in a 6-2 win over the Panthers.

Fantasy Impact: Texier has heated up in the offensive zone, registering points in three of his last five games (four goals, four assists) for the Canadiens. The 26-year-old continues to settle in since being picked up by the Canadiens, picking up 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in 30 games so far this season.

Oliver Kapanen tallied three points for the Canadiens Thursday night, scoring one goal and adding two assists in a 6-2 win over the Panthers.

Fantasy Impact: Kapanen continues a steady stretch in the offensive zone, registering points in seven of his last 10 games (five goals, five assists) for the Canadiens. The 22-year-old has been one of many breakout offensive options in the Montreal lineup for head coach Martin St. Louis, posting 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists) in 44 games so far this season.

Jakub Dobes was outstanding in Wednesday's 2-1 overtime win against the Flames, stopping 36 of the 37 shots he faced. The only goal he allowed came following a turnover. The rookie netminder has now won all four of his starts this season, allowing just six goals on 119 shots.

Fantasy Impact: Dobes continues to make a compelling case for more playing time, improving his record to 4-0-0 with a stellar .950 save percentage. While Sam Montembeault remains the presumptive starter and is scheduled to play Thursday, Dobes' performance cannot be ignored. A timeshare appears likely in the short term, and Dobes has the potential to earn the larger share, or even steal the starting job, if he continues to outperform Montembeault. He should be rostered in all fantasy formats.

Mike Matheson scored the game-winning goal in Wednesday's 2-1 overtime victory against the Flames. Matheson took a pass from Ivan Demidov and found the back of the net one minute into the extra frame. The defenseman finished the contest with three shots on goal, three blocked shots, and two PIM. The goal snapped a brief multi-game point drought for Matheson.

Fantasy Impact: Matheson now has five points (2G, 3A) through eight games this season, along with solid contributions in peripheral categories like hits (11) and blocked shots (18). While Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson are expected to carry the primary offensive load from the blue line, Matheson continues to prove he is a capable contributor. He remains on pace for another 30-plus point season, making him a reliable defenseman in deeper fantasy formats.

Zachary Bolduc scored a power-play goal in Wednesday's 2-1 overtime victory against the Flames. His first-period tally opened the scoring for Montreal. Bolduc finished the game with two shots on goal and two PIM. The goal snapped a four-game pointless streak for the 22-year-old.

Fantasy Impact: After a hot start, Bolduc cooled off significantly, leading to a demotion to the fourth line at even strength. However, he remains on the top power-play unit, which is where his fantasy value is currently derived. The goal might help rebuild his confidence, but his limited five-on-five ice time caps his upside. He remains a hold in deeper leagues due to his power-play deployment, but he needs to regain consistency to be trusted in standard formats.

Alex Newhook dished out two assists in Monday's 4-2 victory over the Sabres. The 24-year-old helped set up the opening goal of the game and later assisted on Lane Hutson's game-winning tally in the third period.

Fantasy Impact: Newhook is off to a solid start with four points (1G, 3A) through seven games while skating in a middle-six role. His fantasy ceiling is capped, as he has seen his power-play time all but disappear this season with the team's increased forward depth. However, he is benefiting from an improved supporting cast and is on pace to set a new career-high, making him a viable option in deeper fantasy formats.

The Canadiens recalled Joshua Roy from AHL Laval on Tuesday. Owen Beck was reassigned to the AHL in a corresponding transaction. Roy will join the team for its upcoming four-game road trip.

Fantasy Impact: Roy has been called up to provide forward depth as the team deals with day-to-day injuries to Kirby Dach (lower body) and Patrik Laine (lower body). The 22-year-old has been productive in the AHL, but his path to the lineup depends on the health of others. If Dach and Laine are cleared to play Wednesday against the Flames, Roy will likely serve as a healthy scratch. He holds no fantasy value at this time.

Owen Beck was reassigned to AHL Laval on Tuesday. The move was made as the Canadiens prepare for a four-game road trip and corresponds with the recall of Joshua Roy. In two NHL games this season, the 21-year-old center was held without a point and recorded one shot on goal.

Fantasy Impact: Beck's demotion is not a surprise, as he was recalled on an emergency basis and failed to make an impact in a fourth-line role. He will head back to Laval to continue his development and get top-line minutes. Beck remains a solid prospect but holds no redraft fantasy value at this time.

Marc Del Gaizo was recalled from AHL Laval by the Canadiens on Tuesday. This promotion strongly suggests that defenseman Kaiden Guhle (lower body) will be placed on injured reserve, although the team has not yet made that move official.

Fantasy Impact: Del Gaizo's recall is a depth move for Montreal's blue line. If he draws into the lineup during the team's current road trip, he would likely slot in on the third pairing, potentially at the expense of Arber Xhekaj. Del Gaizo carries no fantasy value at this time.

Kirby Dach scored his first goal of the campaign in Tuesday's 5-4 overtime victory against the Kraken. He finished the contest with two shots on goal and two hits.

Fantasy Impact: Dach is off to a decent start with two points through four games while centering the second line and seeing power-play time. The deployment gives him plenty of fantasy potential. However, his extensive injury history remains a major concern, as he has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career. He is a high-risk, high-reward asset, but he will need to stay on the ice to capitalize on his favorable position.

Patrik Laine notched his first point of the 2025-26 campaign in Tuesday's 5-4 overtime victory against the Kraken. Laine earned the primary assist on Ivan Demidov's game-tying goal late in the third period. The winger finished the contest with two shots on goal.

Fantasy Impact: It's been a slow start for Laine, who has just one assist through four games. His fantasy value is almost entirely tied to his role as a power-play specialist, as he is currently skating on the fourth line at even strength. While he possesses one of the league's most dangerous shots, his lack of production is becoming a concern. Managers in shallower formats may be growing impatient, but he remains a hold for now due to his power-play upside.

Sam Montembeault stopped 18 of 22 shots en route to a 5-4 overtime victory against the Kraken on Tuesday. He wasn't tested often during the contest, as the Canadiens' defense blocked 23 shots in front of him.

Fantasy Impact: While Montembeault secured his second win in three starts, his individual numbers have been shaky to begin the campaign. He currently sports a poor .870 save percentage on the season. The good news for fantasy managers is that Montreal's improved team defense is keeping his workload manageable, which should help his win totals. He remains the team's clear No. 1 goalie, but he'll need to be sharper to be considered a truly reliable fantasy option.

Arber Xhekaj recorded an assist, six hits, two blocked shots, and two PIM in Thursday's 5-1 victory over the Red Wings. The physical defenseman also finished the contest with a plus-2 rating.

Fantasy Impact: Xhekaj's fantasy value is derived almost exclusively from his physicality. He was limited to just six points last season but racked up 180 hits and 118 PIM. Thursday's performance was a perfect example of what he brings to the table. While he has no value in points-only leagues, Xhekaj is a premium streaming option and a solid roster addition in deep banger formats that heavily reward hits and penalty minutes.

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.