Photo of Martin St-Louis and Winnipeg Jets Logo

Photo credit: All Montreal Hockey / NHL

After the 5-2 loss against the Senators on Tuesday, the Canadiens are making two changes tonight against the Jets.

Martin St. Louis is first giving the net to Jakub Dobes against Winnipeg. At 24 years old, the goaltender has an 8-3-2 record this season, with a 2.89 goals-against average and a .888 save percentage in 12 starts.

After yesterday’s blowout, the Habs have now lost seven of their last ten games, despite an overall record of 13-8-3 and an average of 3.45 goals scored per game.

The Jets arrive at the Bell Centre with a 13-11-0 record, an offense producing 3.14 goals per game, and a tighter defense allowing 2.86 goals. Both clubs sit around 25 to 30 points in the standings; this is therefore a direct matchup to stay in the chase.

Martin St. Louis sends a clear message to his locker room

The other change affects the fourth line: Florian Xhekaj is watching the game from the press box, replaced by Jared Davidson.

The 23-year-old forward already has three games under his belt with the Habs, with no points, but with six shots and an average ice time of 8 minutes and 44 seconds. Called up from the Laval Rocket, he leads the team’s scoring with 11 points, including 9 goals, in just 13 games.

For Florian Xhekaj, 21 years old, it’s a brief pause after an NHL start of three games, one point, and seven penalty minutes. He did, however, make an early impression in his lone game at the Bell Centre, with an assist and a +1 rating in just under ten minutes of play.

Here is the lineup in question:

FORWARDS
Caufield – Suzuki – Bolduc
Slafkovsky – Kapanen – Demidov
Texier – Evans – Anderson
Davidson – Veleno – Gallagher

DEFENSEMEN
Matheson – Dobson
A. Xhekaj – Hutson
Struble – Carrier

In short, two well-targeted adjustments: a young goaltender getting a big showcase and a hungry forward who wants to prove he belongs in the big league.

Puck drop is scheduled for around 7:30 p.m. at the Bell Centre, in a matchup where the Canadiens will try to turn this lineup jolt into two valuable points in the standings.

All of this in a Bell Centre that will be packed to the rafters.

Previously on All Montreal Hockey

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Martin St-Louis announces lineup changes and confirms his starting goalie for the Jets matchup

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