Renee: You are not going to believe the physical toll of that outdoor game. We just watched Jacob Fowler stand on his head for thirty-three saves in the Heritage Classic, but now? Now we have to figure out how to play again, with half the roster missing.
Joel: It was a beautiful night at Princess Auto Stadium, Renee. But hockey is a grind. The Jets were down four games, they were desperate, and Montreal had to dig deep. Winning two-to-one in that environment takes a specific kind of grit.
Renee: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, America’s number one daily sports podcast. I’m Renee, joined by our lead analyst Joel. If you’re new here, we break down every NHL game with tactical precision and zero fluff.
Joel: Hey everyone. It’s good to be back. Today is a preview episode. We’re looking ahead to tomorrow night, Tuesday, October 28th, when the Montreal Canadiens travel to St. Louis to face the Blues.
Renee: Here is what we are covering tonight. First, we’ll talk about the matchup against St. Louis and what the Blues bring to the ice. Second, we’re doing a deep dive into the injury report—who is out, who is IR, and how that changes the line combinations. And third, we’ll give you the keys to the game and our prediction for the outcome.
Joel: Before we get into the tactics, I want to say something real quick. This show is free, no ads, no paywall. That only works because of listeners like you. If you want to keep this independent and daily, please check the link in the episode description. Your support keeps the lights on.
Renee: Okay, let’s jump into Segment One. The big storylines. Montreal comes in at six-and-three, sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference. They just beat Winnipeg, 2-1, in the Heritage Classic. Now they go on the road to St. Louis.
Joel: Right. And St. Louis is five-and-five-one in the Central Division. So this is a clash of teams that are hovering around .500, trying to find consistency. The Blues aren’t having a bad season, but they aren’t dominating yet either.
Renee: The headline says it’s a non-conference matchup. Usually, those games can be weird. Teams haven’t played each other all year. There’s no history, no familiarity. Do you think that helps Montreal or hurts them?
Joel: I think it helps Montreal slightly, actually. Why? Because the Canadiens have been playing well recently. They beat Chicago four-to-one on Friday. Jake Evans scored twice in that game. Then they win the Heritage Classic on Sunday. Momentum is with Montreal.
Renee: But wait—didn’t we talk about this yesterday? The Blues might be coming off a tough loss themselves? Or is it the Jets who are struggling?
Joel: No, the Jets are the ones on a four-game losing streak. They lost to Montreal yesterday. The Blues are a different team. They’re fresh. They haven’t played since before the weekend maybe? No, wait, checking the schedule... no, the brief doesn't say their last game date, just that they are 5-5-1.
Renee: Okay, so the Blues are rested but inconsistent. Montreal is riding a high from the outdoor win, but they are physically battered. That’s the first storyline. Can the Canadiens carry the energy from an outdoor game into a standard arena game without burning out?
Joel: That is the key question. The Heritage Classic is intense. The cold, the noise, the physicality. You see players moving slower the next day. If Montreal’s forecheck is slow, St. Louis will exploit the neutral zone. We need to see if Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield can drive the puck early.
Renee: Speaking of driving the puck, let’s look at the second segment. The injuries. This is huge. Nick Suzuki is Out. Sam Montembeault is on Injured Reserve. Josh Morrissey is also IR for Winnipeg, but we care about Montreal right now.
Joel: Let’s list them out clearly. For Montreal: Nick Suzuki is Out. Sam Montembeault is IR. Ivan Demidov is IR. Bryce Pickford is IR. Lucas Condotta is IR. Vladislav Namestnikov is IR. Nick Bjugstad is IR. Garrett Brown is IR.
Renee: That is a lot of bodies missing. Especially up front. Namestnikov, Bjugstad, Demidov—all gone. And Suzuki, the captain, is out. How does that change the lineup against St. Louis?
Joel: It forces a reshuffle. You have to look at the remaining forwards. Chris Kreider, Juraj Slafkovsky, Alexandre Texier, Florian Xhekaj, Josh Anderson, Zack Bolduc, Cole Caufield, Kaiden Guhle on defense, Lane Hutson on defense.
Renee: So we are leaning heavily on the top lines. Kreider and Slafkovsky. And Caufield. We mentioned yesterday that Caufield had an assist and a point against Winnipeg. Is he the engine now?
Joel: He has to be. With Suzuki out, the playmaking burden shifts. Caufield lined up on line two against Winnipeg and still got points. He needs to be more involved in the cycle. Also, remember Owen Beck? He’s a center. Phillip Danault is there. Kirby Dach is there.
Renee: Beck, Danault, Dach, Evans. Those are the centers available. Evans scored twice against Chicago. He’s playing well. Will he get more time against St. Louis?
Joel: I expect yes. Jake Evans is a grinder. He fits the style needed against a physical team like St. Louis. But we also need to talk about the goaltending situation. Sam Montembeault is IR. Who is starting?
Renee: Jacob Fowler started against Winnipeg and made 33 saves. He held them off 2-1. Is he the guy for St. Louis too?
Joel: Unless there’s a surprise, Fowler is starting. Jakub Dobes is the backup, but Fowler looked confident in that outdoor game. He didn’t panic. He made the routine saves and then the big ones. If he stays sharp, Montreal stays in the game.
Renee: But can he handle the volume? St. Louis isn’t Winnipeg. Winnipeg was on a losing streak, demoralized. St. Louis is fighting for position. They might shoot more pucks. Fowler needs to stay focused.
Joel: Exactly. Volume leads to rebounds. Rebounds lead to goals. If Montreal’s penalty kill is weak—which it has been, given the missing guys—they can’t afford to give St. Louis power-play opportunities. That’s a major concern.
Renee: We’ve covered the matchups and the injuries. Let’s move to Segment Three. Keys to the game. What do you think is the single most important thing Montreal needs to do to win tomorrow?
Joel: Zone entries. It sounds boring, but it’s everything. When you’re missing key players like Suzuki and Demidov, your ability to enter the offensive zone cleanly determines whether you generate quality chances or just dump and chase.
Renee: Dump and chase. That’s what I was thinking. If they can’t skillfully get past the blue line, they’re playing a weaker game. Lane Hutson is small, but he’s fast. Does he help with zone entries?
Joel: Hutson is crucial. He’s a dynamic skater. He can slip through gaps. But he also needs support. Kaiden Guhle is on the blueline. Guhle had a goal against Chicago, assisted by Evans. That connection worked. They need to replicate that chemistry.
Renee: Guhle and Hutson together on the D pair? That’s a young, fast pairing. Does that worry coaches? Usually, you want experience.
Joel: With the injuries, experience is scarce. They have to use what they have. Adam Engstrom, Noah Dobson, Alexandre Carrier, Arber Xhekaj, Joel Matheson. Some of these guys are veterans. Maybe Carrier or Dobson pairs with Hutson to balance it?
Renee: Dobson is on the roster? I saw him listed as a defenseman. Yes. So they have options. But the forward lines are the bigger mystery. Who is centering the top line without Suzuki?
Joel: Likely Phillip Danault or Kirby Dach. Danault is the veteran presence. He knows how to play in tight spaces. If you put Danault with Kreider and Slafkovsky, that’s a serious line. High hockey IQ. Physical. Dangerous.
Renee: That sounds scary for St. Louis. Kreider, Slafkovsky, Danault. That’s a lot of size. Do you think St. Louis can match that physicality?
Joel: St. Louis has their own physical players. But if Montreal controls the net-front area, it opens up shooting lanes for Caufield. Remember, Caufield is a sniper. If he gets space, he scores. The key is creating that space.
Renee: So, control the net front, drive clean zone entries, and let Caufield work. That’s the formula. What about the penalty kill? We said it earlier, but it bears repeating. Missing guys means fewer bodies to block shots.
Joel: Absolutely. The penalty kill must be disciplined. No diving. No unnecessary penalties. If you’re shorthanded, you survive. You don’t try to score short-handed unless it’s a great chance. Just keep it simple. Clear the zone. Get the puck out.
Renee: Simple is good. Simple wins games when you’re missing half your roster. Okay, final segment. Prediction time. We predicted Montreal would beat St. Louis 3-1 in our last episode. Did we feel confident then? Yes. Do we feel confident now?
Joel: I’m sticking with it. But I’m adjusting the score slightly. I think it’s tighter. The Blues are dangerous at home. I’m going with Montreal winning, but it’s close. 2-1 again? Or maybe 3-2?
Renee: I’m going bold. I think Montreal wins 4-1. Why? Because Jake Evans is hot. He scored twice against Chicago. He’s a heart-and-soul player. He feeds off the crowd. And Jacob Fowler is locked in.
Joel: Four to one feels optimistic. St. Louis will score. They’re a Central Division team. They have firepower. I think Montreal wins, but I’d settle for a 2-1 victory. A gritty, defensive win.
Renee: Okay, so we have a range. 2-1 to 4-1. Montreal wins. Key player to watch? Lane Hutson. We predicted he’d record a point against St. Louis last time. Let’s stick with that. He’s the spark plug.
Joel: Agreed. Hutson. And Cole Caufield. If Caufield gets even one goal, it changes the game. He’s been consistent. Six-and-three record for the team, but Caufield is the constant threat.
Renee: Alright, fans. Tomorrow night, Tuesday, October 28th. Montreal Canadiens at St. Louis Blues. Don’t miss it. Make sure you have your snacks ready, because this one should be fun.
Joel: Thanks for listening to the Beatline Podcast Network. We’ll be back tomorrow with a full recap after the game. See you then.
Renee: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review us wherever you get your podcasts. Share it with a friend who loves the Habs. Go Canadiens!