The Montreal Canadiens are set to play the Detroit Red Wings later on Saturday and are set to do something for the first time this season. Florian Xhekaj is dealing with an injury and Oliver Kapanen seemingly not ready to return, the Canadiens are expected to have 11 forwards and seven defensemen active for the game against Detroit.
In this game, it will certainly be interesting to watch how the ice time is split among the players and one possibility is Arber Xhekaj moving up to play on the fourth line in place of his brother. The Canadiens are able to do that as Kaiden Guhle is on track to return and make his season debut.
With Guhle back, the Canadiens can have him be the sixth defenseman on the blueline and give Xhekaj a chance to play with the forwards. This is not a new idea for Montreal, and Xhekaj even played a game last season up with the forwards.
Another possibility is that the Canadiens wanted seven defensemen to ease Guhle into the game and not ask him to play 15-20 minutes in his first game back. If they go that route, then it's probably a game where the Top 3 forward lines get more ice time while rotating a player in with the fourth line.
Montreal Canadiens make the surprising decision to start Jacob Fowler again
The potential for an active roster of 11 forwards and seven defensemen wasn't the only surprise on Saturday morning as the team announced that Jacob Fowler would be getting his second straight start after making his debut Thursday night against Nashville.
Fowler was called up from Laval earlier in the week after Samuel Montembeault suffered an injury in practice. In his first start, he allowed three goals on 18 shots against the Predators.
There could have been a few factors that went into the decision to give Fowler another start and the first is that it is against an easier team on paper. The Buffalo Sabres, who they play Tuesday, are much better offensively than the Detroit Red Wings, and it could be an easier matchup.
Another possibility is that, with Montembeault injured, the Canadiens want to get Fowler as many NHL starts as possible. He is clearly their top goalie prospect and one of the best prospects in the entire NHL, but he didn't start the season in Montreal because of Montembeault.
With Montembeault out, this gives the team a chance to get Fowler experience at the NHL level and potentially help that transition once it becomes permanent.
The Canadiens are set to play the Detroit Red Wings at 7 PM on Saturday night.
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