The Boston Bruins are facing injury challenges, with defenseman Hampus Lindholm absent from practice and Charlie McAvoy undergoing surgery to address an infection, sidelining him week-to-week. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Sabres have seen some positive news as Mattias Samuelsson returned to practice, and Jordan Greenway is expected back after a prolonged absence due to a mid-body injury.

In other updates, Nashville's Jeremy Lauzon will be out for up to six months with a lower-body injury, while the New Jersey Devils reported Nico Hischier's complete participation in practice. The New York Rangers are also navigating injury concerns, recalling goaltender Dylan Garand as Igor Shesterkin skated alone. The Ottawa Senators had forwards Shane Pinto and Josh Norris miss practice.

The Montreal Canadiens are contemplating the future of forward Jake Evans, whose pending unrestricted free agency status at a $1.7 million cap hit makes him an attractive trade option. While his ideal role may be as a fourth-line center for a contender, Evans has proven his versatility by playing third-line minutes and being effective at both center and wing. Teams such as the Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, and Columbus Blue Jackets have shown interest, with the Capitals reportedly offering a second-round pick during the draft.

Despite the current injury to defenseman Kaiden Guhle, the Canadiens remain committed to their long-term strategy. They are not seeking short-term rental solutions but are focused on trades that would benefit the team beyond the current season. The Canadiens are weighing their options for other pending UFAs such as Joel Armia, Christian Dvorak, Michael Pezzetta, and David Savard as they look to build for the future.

After trading Tyler Toffoli to the Calgary Flames, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes emphasized the importance of communication, personally informing Toffoli about the trade. He also reached out to new players Tyler Pitlick and Emil Heineman, ensuring they felt welcomed.

Heineman has emerged as a key player for the Canadiens, ranking fourth on the team in goals despite limited ice time. His physical play and scoring ability have been noted by both Hughes and head coach Martin St. Louis, who suggests Heineman deserves more ice time.

Juraj Slafkovsky is set to return for the Montreal Canadiens against the Seattle Kraken after missing three games due to an upper-body injury. In his six games this season, he has recorded 1 goal and 5 assists.

Slafkovsky will play left wing on the second line, while the first line remains intact with Nick Suzuki centering Cole Caufield and Kirby Dach. The Canadiens aim to extend their winning streak to three games, while the Kraken are struggling with their recent performance.

The Montreal Canadiens faced off against the St. Louis Blues in a thrilling matchup at the Bell Centre, marking a milestone for TVA Sports’ Félix Séguin as he called his 1,500th game. The Canadiens started strong, with Jake Evans scoring the opening goal, while goaltender Samuel Montembeault rebounded impressively from a previous poor performance.

Despite a brief momentum shift allowing the Blues to score quickly, the Canadiens maintained control, with Kirby Dach contributing significantly to the win. Cole Caufield led the team with seven goals this season, showcasing the Canadiens' offensive prowess.