Morning Skate: Defense Pairings and Line Combinations for Oct. 18
The Montreal Canadiens faced challenges prior to their morning skate on October 18. The team announced significant injuries affecting their roster. Key defenseman Kaiden Guhle is set to miss four to six weeks due to a lower-body injury. Additionally, forwards Kirby Dach and Patrik Laine are considered day-to-day with similar lower-body issues. This unfortunate news means all three players will be unavailable for the upcoming game against the New York Rangers.
Defense Pairings and Line Combinations for Oct. 18
In light of these injuries, the Canadiens made a strategic move. They recalled Owen Beck from the Laval Rocket on an emergency basis. It is crucial for the team to maintain competitive line combinations despite the setbacks.
Projected Lineup Changes
Head coach Martin St-Louis is expected to make adjustments to the defense pairings and forward lines. Below are the projected line combinations for the game:
- Defense Pairings:
- Pair 1: Mike Matheson and David Savard
- Pair 2: Joel Edmundson and Chris Wideman
- Pair 3: Arber Xhekaj and the recalled Owen Beck
- Forward Lines:
- Line 1: Suzuki, Caufield, and Hoffman
- Line 2: Monahan, Dvorak, and Anderson
- Line 3: Gallagher, Evans, and Beck
These adjustments are essential for the Canadiens as they prepare to face the Rangers. The absence of Guhle, Dach, and Laine poses challenges, but the team is determined to put forth a competitive effort.
