The Montreal Canadiens are gearing up for a high-stakes preseason clash against the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre on Thursday night. Scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET and broadcast on RDS, TSN2, and TSN4, the game will feature the return of forward Kirby Dach, who is expected to make his 2025-26 preseason debut after a long recovery from a knee injury sustained in late February.
Dach Returns to Action Alongside Laine and Demidov
During Thursday’s morning skate, Dach was seen skating on a line with Patrik Laine and Ivan Demidov, signaling his reintegration into the Canadiens’ top offensive units. His return adds depth and energy to a lineup already buzzing with talent.
Caufield, Slafkovsky, and Suzuki Back for Second Straight Game
Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Nick Suzuki are also expected to suit up for a second consecutive outing, following a dominant performance in Montreal’s preseason opener against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. Their chemistry and offensive firepower will be key against a competitive Maple Leafs squad.
Projected Forward Lines
Here are the expected forward combinations for tonight’s game:
- 13 Cole Caufield
- 14 Nick Suzuki
- 20 Juraj Slafkovsky
- 92 Patrik Laine
- 77 Kirby Dach
- 93 Ivan Demidov
- 89 Joshua Roy
- 96 Vinzenz Rohrer
- 46 Filip Mesar
- 49 Owen Davidson
- 63 Arber Xhekaj
- 88 Luke Tuch
Goaltenders
- 35 Samuel Montembeault
- 32 Jacob Fowler
Defensive Rotation
Kaiden Guhle, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, David Reinbacher, Nate Clurman, and Ryan O’Rourke rotated through defensive pairings during the morning skate, offering a glimpse into the depth and flexibility of Montreal’s blue line.
A Key Test Ahead of the Regular Season
With top talent returning to the ice and new combinations being tested, tonight’s game will serve as a crucial benchmark for the Canadiens as they prepare for the regular season. All eyes will be on Dach’s performance and how the team’s top lines gel under pressure.
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