The Canadiens have loaned forward Owen Beck and defenseman David Reinbacher to the Laval Rocket. Both will play tonight when the Rocket host the Syracuse Crunch at 7:00 PM ET.

The timing matters. Neither player dressed against San Jose last night, and both were healthy scratches, not injured. Montreal is off today, practices tomorrow and then leaves for Chicago, so the loan gives two players real ice time tonight instead of another day without a game.

Why Play Tonight at All?

From a coach’s point of view, this is simple. When a player sits out for several days, he loses his rhythm and his timing. One game in the AHL fixes that fast. Playing a full game tonight is worth more than another practice.

The big question is what happens tomorrow morning. A one-game loan like this can end right away, so the Canadiens may bring one or both of them back to practice with the team. We will know more from the team early tomorrow.

What the Numbers Say So Far

Player	Team	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM
Owen Beck (C)	Canadiens	2	0	0	0	-2	0
Owen Beck (C)	Rocket	4	0	1	1	+1	2
David Reinbacher (D)	Canadiens	1	0	0	0	-1	0
David Reinbacher (D)	Rocket	4	0	2	2	+3	14

Beck has played two NHL games this season and averaged about 7:22 of ice time, which is a fourth-line role. He has two shots on goal and no points. Reinbacher played one game, last Saturday against Buffalo, with 9:09 of ice time and one shot. Neither has had much chance to show what he can do, which is why tonight matters.

In Laval, both have played well. Reinbacher has two assists and a +3 rating in four games, and Beck has an assist and a +1 in four games. Full Rocket numbers are on our Rocket stats page.

What It Means for the Road Trip

Here is where the two cases split. Mike Matheson is skating and is close to returning to the lineup. If he is ready, the Canadiens get an experienced defenseman back and Reinbacher will likely stay in Laval, where he can play every night.

Beck is different because the Canadiens are short on forwards. Ivan Demidov and Florian Xhekaj are both on injured reserve, and we do not expect either one back this week. On a road trip, Montreal needs 13 forwards: 12 to play and one extra in case someone gets hurt or sick. That is why Beck is the one to watch tomorrow morning. If the Canadiens want an extra forward in Chicago, he is the natural choice.

Either way, it is good for both players. They get a game tonight, and tomorrow we will see what the Canadiens decide before they leave. Follow every move on our Roster Moves page and check the injury report for updates.

Sources: Canadiens season stats from NHL.com; Rocket stats from HABSHQ’s Rocket stats page; roster move as announced by the Canadiens on Oct. 21, 2026.