What happened: The Montreal Canadiens are without their captain for scheduled regular-season play. Meanwhile, Dowling is making a push to secure playing time with the New York Rangers.

Why it matters: Operating without the team captain forces Montreal to adjust its on-ice leadership and lineup deployment. For New York, internal roster competition gives the coaching staff depth options as NHL trade activity develops across the league.

What to watch: Montreal prepares for its scheduled regular-season game at 0-0 while New York continues evaluating its lineup combinations.