The Montreal Canadiens, sitting pretty with a 45-22-10 record, are set for a Tuesday night showdown against the Florida Panthers. Puck drop is at 7 pm ET, and this marks the final chapter in their season series, with the Habs currently holding a commanding 2-0 lead.

While the Canadiens won those previous matchups 3-2 and 6-2, a key factor has changed in the crease. Veteran Samuel Montembeault started both those games, but the net now firmly belongs to the exciting rookie duo of Jacob Fowler and Jakub Dobes. With Fowler starting Sunday, expect the red-hot Dobes to get the nod against Florida. The 24-year-old is riding a five-game winning streak, boasting a stellar .955 save percentage over that stretch by stopping 171 of 179 shots.

The Panthers will be without their star power, as Matthew Tkachuk is away awaiting the birth of his child. Meanwhile, the Canadiens' lineup could receive a major boost. Key forwards Kirby Dach and Alexandre Texier are reportedly very close to returning, potentially suiting up tonight. Their return would force head coach Martin St-Louis into some fascinating lineup decisions just before game time.

Dach has top-line experience, but breaking up one of the NHL's most effective trios seems unlikely. A more probable scenario sees him slotting into the second line, injecting significant skill and size back into the middle six. Texier's return adds further depth and versatility, meaning we could see significant shuffling across the Canadiens' bottom three lines as they integrate their returning weapons and look to sweep the season series against the Panthers.