Here's Martin St-Louis' Surprising Lineup Just 2 Days Before Montreal's Playoff Opener

The Montreal Canadiens hit the ice for a morning practice session on April 17th, and what head coach Martin St-Louis put together has fans buzzing with excitement — and more than a few questions. With the team's first-round playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning set to begin on Sunday at 5:45 PM, St-Louis has reshuffled virtually all of his offensive units, while the expected return of Alexandre Carrier is also shaking things up on the blue line.

A Fresh Look Up Front

The forward combinations revealed during practice paint an intriguing picture of how Montreal might approach their postseason matchup. The top line remains anchored by the dynamic trio of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovský — no surprise there. But things get really interesting further down the depth chart.

Ivan Demidov finds himself skating alongside Alex Newhook and Alexandre Texier on what could be an electrifying second line. All three players bring blazing speed and creativity, a combination that could generate serious offensive fireworks. On the third line, Oliver Kapanen centers Zachary Bolduc and Kirby Dach, though Dach's inclusion remains a debatable choice among NHL observers.

Perhaps the most strategically fascinating unit is the fourth line of Jake Evans, Phillip Danault, and Josh Anderson. This trio has the defensive chops and physical presence to potentially neutralize Tampa Bay's superstar Nikita Kucherov — both by shutting him down and by delivering punishing body checks. If this configuration holds, it would leave veterans Brendan Gallagher and Joe Veleno on the outside looking in.

The Blue Line Gets a Boost

On defense, the pairings largely reflect what many expected in the absence of Noah Dobson, though it's worth noting that only one right-handed shot makes the six-man rotation. Kaiden Guhle pairs with Mike Matheson on the top unit, while Lane Hutson skates alongside the returning Alexandre Carrier — two pairings that offer an excellent balance between offensive creativity and defensive responsibility.

But the duo that could truly become a playoff revelation is the third pairing of Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj. Given the heightened intensity of postseason hockey — and the extra leeway that referees traditionally give players during the playoffs — this bruising tandem has the potential to make life miserable for Tampa Bay's forwards. If they play to their strengths and stay disciplined enough to avoid crossing the line, they could evoke memories of the Joel Edmundson and Ben Chiarot partnership that terrorized opponents during Montreal's magical 2021 playoff run. Back then, going to the front of the Canadiens' net came with a painful price tag.

Of course, it's important to remember that this lineup may not be the one that actually takes the ice on Sunday night. St-Louis is well known for deploying decoy formations during practice sessions leading up to playoff games, deliberately showing different looks to keep opposing coaching staffs guessing. The Canadiens' bench boss has made a habit of using misdirection as a strategic tool, so reading too much into any single practice configuration could be a fool's errand.

With two days still remaining before puck drop, there's plenty of time for additional tweaks and adjustments. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely during the team's remaining practice sessions to see whether these combinations solidify or if St-Louis has yet another surprise up his sleeve for this highly anticipated 2026 first-round showdown against Tampa Bay. Stay tuned — more details are expected to emerge as game day approaches.