MONTREAL

Montreal Canadiens: Cayden Primeau, Otto Leskinen to make NHL debuts against Colorado

Supervising Producer, CTV News Montreal

Basem Boshra Digital Supervisor, CTV News Montreal

Published Thursday, December 5, 2019 12:08PM EST Last Updated Thursday, December 5, 2019 12:57PM EST

New Jersey Devils' Ben Street (36) moves in on Montreal Canadiens goaltender Cayden Primeau during third period NHL pre-season hockey action in Montreal, Monday, Sept. 16, 2019. Primeau will make his NHL debut tonight when the rookie starts against the visiting Colorado Avalanche. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

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MONTREAL -- Montreal Canadiens head coach Claude Julien has confirmed that Cayden Primeau will make his first start in nets for the Montreal Canadiens Thursday night at the Bell Centre against the Colorado Avalanche.

Primeau, a seventh-round pick by the Habs in 2017, will also be making his NHL debut. He was called up earlier this week from the Laval Rocket to back up Canadiens goalie Carey Price.

Primeau, 20, had a 7-4-1 record and a 2.58 GAA in 12 starts with the Rocket of the American Hockey League.

The Canadiens also announced that defenceman Otto Leskinen, 22, will make his NHL debut in Thursday night's game. Leskinen, who was called up from the Rocket on Wednesday, had 11 assists in 24 games in Laval this season.

Earlier this week the Canadiens snapped its eight-game winless streak with a 4-2 win at home against the New York Islanders.

The Avalanche have won four games in a row, including a 3-1 win.