Zachary Bolduc sits as Martin St. Louis sends clear message before Lightning clash
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Cimon Asselin
Apr 9, 2026 (12:09)
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Photo credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Martin St. Louis scratches Zachary Bolduc as the Montreal Canadiens face Tampa Bay Lightning with Atlantic Division positioning on the line.
This isn't just another night at the Bell Centre.
Both teams sit at 102 points, chasing the Buffalo Sabres, and this matchup has a playoff edge written all over it.
And before puck drop, St. Louis made his call.
Zachary Bolduc is out of the lineup. No injury. No rotation excuse. A direct decision tied to performance and trust.
That kind of move lands differently in April.
Here's how the Canadiens line up tonight:
Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Texier - Newhook - Demidov
Veleno - Evans - Dach
Kapanen - Danault - Anderson
Texier - Newhook - Demidov
Veleno - Evans - Dach
Kapanen - Danault - Anderson
Matheson - Dobson
Struble - Hutson
Xhekaj - Engstrom
Struble - Hutson
Xhekaj - Engstrom
Dobes
Fowler
Fowler
Joe Veleno steps right back in after missing the last game and takes Bolduc's spot in the bottom six.
That switch tells you exactly what the staff wants.
More pace. More detail. Fewer mistakes with the puck.
Canadiens make bold call on Zachary Bolduc ahead of must-win vs Lightning
Bolduc had been getting looks, but not enough stuck. Now he watches the biggest game of the season from upstairs.
That's a tough spot for a young forward trying to earn a role.
And it's not happening in isolation.
Brendan Gallagher remains out again, which reinforces the direction St. Louis is taking with this group.
This lineup leans faster and more predictable, especially in the bottom six where defensive reads matter more than individual plays.
Veleno fits that mold better right now.
The Canadiens are also dealing with a blue line that's far from intact.
Kaiden Guhle is out, forcing Adam Engstrom into the third pair again alongside Arber Xhekaj.
That's a young duo going up against a Lightning team with 281 goals scored.
There's no easing into that matchup.
Up front, the top line stays untouched. Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Juraj Slafkovsky carry the offensive push.
They'll likely see a heavy dose of Tampa's top defenders from the opening shift.
The second unit with Alex Newhook and Ivan Demidov adds skill, but the real tone gets set lower in the lineup.
That's where Bolduc was supposed to carve out his space.
Instead, it's Veleno taking those minutes, likely matched against stronger competition and key defensive zone starts.
In net, Jakub Dobes gets the call.
He brings a 2.73 GAA into this one, and the Canadiens will need him sharp against a team that can generate off the rush and on the power play.
Special teams could swing this game quickly.
Tampa Bay runs at 21.5% on the power play, which puts added pressure on a Montreal penalty kill that can't afford breakdowns.
All signs point to a tight bench and short leashes.
And for Zachary Bolduc, the message is clear.
At this stage of the season, if you're not trusted, you're not playing.
That's where he stands tonight.
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