Canadiens’ Bolduc, Struble draw into lineup against Capitals

After dropping their first post-Olympic game, the Montreal Canadiens are making some changes.

Zachary Bolduc and Jayden Struble will draw into the lineup on Saturday against the Washington Capitals, head coach Martin St. Louis confirmed.

Alexandre Texier and Arber Xhekaj, meanwhile, will serve as healthy scratches.

Live coverage of Canadiens-Capitals begins at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.

Bolduc and Struble were both scratched for the Canadiens’ 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday.

The 23-year-old Bolduc has 10 goals and 13 assists in 57 games on the season. He originally came out of the lineup to make room for Alex Newhook.

Struble, 24, has eight points — all assists — in 39 games.

Texier, who joined the Canadiens in November, has just two assists in his past seven games. For the season, which he began with an eight-game stint with the St. Louis Blues, the Frenchman owns seven goals and 12 assists in 39 appearances.

He signed a two-year, $5 million contract extension with the Canadiens in January.

Xhekaj, the 25-year-old enforcer, has two points (one goal, one assist) in 51 games.

Montreal occupies the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot ahead of Saturday’s action, four points clear of the Capitals, who have won three straight.

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