Good news for the 
Canadiens and for poolers waiting on two important pieces. Mike Matheson and Samuel Montembeault took another step Tuesday morning, hours before the game against the 
Minnesota Wild. After skating before the group, both players stayed on the ice for the full practice.
Matheson out since October 27
Matheson, 32, has not played since October 27 in St. Louis, because of a lower-body injury. He skated with a small group early in the morning before joining his teammates.
Montembeault has not played yet this season
Montembeault has still not seen action in 2026-27 after getting hurt in practice. He shared the net in a three-goalie rotation with Jacob Fowler and Jakub Dobes. The goalie from Becancour is day-to-day.
Medical clearance is still pending
As of this writing, it was not yet known whether either player had been medically cleared to return to play. No return date has been confirmed. Ivan Demidov, for his part, was not on the ice with the group. The Canadiens say he has not had a setback in his recovery.
What it means for your pool
If you have Montembeault, hold him, his return is getting closer. Watch who gets the starts in the days that follow, since Jacob Fowler has held the net in his absence. If you have Matheson, check the pre-game news before putting him back in your lineup. The Canadiens host Minnesota on Tuesday night, then visit Boston on Thursday before hosting Colorado on Saturday.
Sources
The facts in this article come from TVA Sports and RDS.