Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jake Allen will get the start in net Wednesday when the team visits the Toronto Maple Leafs, according to head coach Martin St. Louis.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, St. Louis said he believes Allen gives their team the best chance at winning the season opener.
Allen, 33, is coming off a 2022-23 season that saw him record a 3.55 goals-against average, .891 save percentage and 15-24-3 record over 42 appearances.
Against the Maple Leafs last season, he went 1-1-0 and stopped 65 of 73 shots.
The Canadiens are carrying three goaltenders after submitting their finalized 23-man roster on Monday, which included Allen, Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau.
Allen, an NHL veteran with 10 seasons under his belt, enters the 2023-24 season starting his two-year, $7.7-million contract extension signed in October 2022.