The Montreal Canadiens are preparing for the playoffs with significant adjustments to their defensive lineup. With Noah Dobson still sidelined due to an upper-body injury, the team received promising news regarding Alexandre Carrier’s potential return.
Alexandre Carrier’s Status Update
During Thursday’s practice, Carrier participated in full-contact drills, signaling his readiness to rejoin the lineup. Carrier had been on the injured list since late March. He completed the regular season playing 73 games, contributing 22 points and recording 155 blocked shots, the second-highest on the team. His average ice time was over 19 minutes per game.
Impact on the Lineup
The Canadiens face the challenge of structuring their defense effectively for the upcoming series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. With Carrier’s anticipated return, several defensive pairings have emerged during practice:
- Carrier and Lane Hutson
- Mike Matheson and Adam Engstrom (with Eric Engels noting a shift to Kaiden Guhle)
- Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj
The pairing of Carrier and Hutson is particularly noteworthy. They have already spent over 340 minutes on the ice together this season, achieving a positive expected goals percentage (xGF%) of 55.98%, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Potential Adjustments During the Series
As the series progresses, the Canadiens may choose to shuffle their defensive combinations. This could involve pairing Carrier with Guhle, which would allow Matheson and Hutson to play together. Such strategic changes could enhance the team’s performance on the blue line.
In summary, Alexandre Carrier’s return represents a significant boost for the Montreal Canadiens’ defense as they gear up for their playoff match against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
