Canadiens’ Kaiden Guhle Set for Season Debut Against Red Wings

Saturday’s NHL slate brings a handful of lineup calls into focus, from a Canadiens defenseman making his first appearance of the season to the Islanders getting Bo Horvat back on the ice after a scary late hit Thursday.

Saturday lineup notebook

1. Kaiden Guhle is set to make his season debut when the Montreal Canadiens meet the Detroit Red Wings at 7 p.m. ET. Guhle underwent a minor adductor procedure during the offseason, with Montreal announcing Sept. 16 that he would miss four to five weeks. The defenseman posted two goals and nine assists in 39 games last season.

2. Horvat will be available for the New York Islanders against the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7:30 p.m. ET. He skated on the first line and No. 1 power-play group during the morning session after leaving Thursday’s 4-1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks late in the third period.

   Chicago center Frank Nazar caught Horvat with an illegal hit to the head at 18:27 of the final period. Horvat had scored twice before departing, while Nazar received a five-minute match penalty and later drew a two-game suspension from NHL Player Safety.

   “It’s a huge relief,” Islanders coach Peter DeBoer said. “It was a dangerous hit. The league handled it, and we’re grateful he can play. Those hits to the head can keep a player out for a long time.”

3. The Los Angeles Kings will be without Mats Zuccarello against the Vegas Golden Knights at 10 p.m. ET. Zuccarello is considered week to week with an undisclosed injury after missing the previous two practices.

   He logged 17:16 in Los Angeles’ 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. It has not been determined whether the current issue connects to the shoulder injury he suffered in a fall before training camp. Zuccarello has one assist through three games since joining the Kings on a one-year, $1 million deal July 1.

   Alex Turcotte is also day to day with an undisclosed injury. Turcotte has one assist in three games and had opened the year centering the second line, with Quinton Byfield moving into the top-center job after Anze Kopitar’s retirement.

4. St. Louis Blues forward Dillon Dube will be checked again in eight weeks after sustaining a neck injury Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. Dube was hurt along the offensive-zone boards following a check from Sharks forward Will Smith in St. Louis’ 3-2 overtime defeat.

   Before exiting that game, Dube scored a short-handed goal, his first NHL goal since Nov. 16, 2023. Zach Dean will enter the Blues lineup when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets at 7 p.m. ET.

5. John Tavares will miss the Toronto Maple Leafs’ road game against the Colorado Avalanche at 9 p.m. ET after the birth of his son, Tucker. Tavares has one goal and two assists in Toronto’s first five games, with the club holding a 2-2-1 record. Nick Paul is expected to take Tavares’ spot in the top six.

6. New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler practiced Friday and could return against the Vancouver Canucks at 3:30 p.m. ET. He was injured when he fell awkwardly at 3:50 of the third period in Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to the Utah Mammoth.

   “I think it’s better than we first believed,” Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said. Siegenthaler has no points, three blocked shots and an average ice time of 18:54 over three games.

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