- Oct 16, 2026
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The Montreal Canadiens will feature two season debuts Saturday when they host the Buffalo Sabres at Bell Centre.
Forward Oliver Kapanen will play his first game of the 2026-27 campaign after missing the start of the year with a lower-body injury. The 23-year-old, selected by Montreal in the second round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, tallied 22 goals and 15 assists for 37 points during his 2025-26 rookie season and helped the club advance to the Eastern Conference Final. During the 2024-25 season with TIMra IK in Sweden's SHL, Kapanen produced 35 points across 36 contests on 15 goals and 20 assists.
Defenseman David Reinbacher will also make his season debut after being called up from the AHL's Laval Rocket. The 21-year-old, taken fifth overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, had two assists in four AHL games this season. Over 82 career AHL appearances, Reinbacher has registered 36 points on nine goals and 27 helpers. He spent the 2023-24 campaign with Kloten HC in Switzerland, collecting one goal and 10 assists in 35 games.
Montreal carries a 3-3-1 record through its first seven games. The Canadiens are scheduled to host the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday before embarking on a four-game road trip that begins Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Source: Daily Faceoff - Sat Oct 17, 1:04 PM ET
Written by the SportsMafia Wire desk in our own words from the original reporting (AI-assisted, checked against the source).