MONTREAL — Montreal defenceman Mike Matheson will be sidelined, while goaltender Jacob Fowler will make his third straight start when the Canadiens host the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.

Matheson, who averages the second-highest ice time on the Canadiens, is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury.

Forward Owen Beck will take Matheson’s place in the lineup and make his season debut after being recalled from the American Hockey League’s Laval Rocket on Monday. The Canadiens (2-2-1) dressed 11 forwards and seven defencemen in Saturday’s 1-0 shootout victory over the Detroit Red Wings.

Fowler made 30 saves and stopped all six Detroit attempts in the shootout to earn his second NHL shutout.

The 21-year-old American was recalled last week after Canadiens backup Samuel Montembeault sustained an injury in practice. Fowler has since been chosen over opening-night starter Jakub Dobes for two consecutive games.

Mike Matheson out, Jacob Fowler to start again as Canadiens host Sabres | iNFOnews.ca — Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler (32) reacts following the team’s shootout win over the Detroit Red Wings in an NHL hockey game in Montreal on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Dobes, who was stellar in the Canadiens’ run to the Eastern Conference final last season, has posted a 1-1-1 record, a 4.43 goals-against average and a .857 save percentage to open the 2026-27 season.

The Sabres will be without captain Rasmus Dahlin, who did not travel to Montreal after sustaining an apparent lower-back injury in Monday’s 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers. He is considered day-to-day.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 13, 2026.