Canadiens make Jesperi Kotkaniemi healthy scratch for Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final

The Montreal Canadiens are making several lineup changes for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night. 

One of the most notable changes to head coach Dominique Ducharme's lineup is the insertion of Jake Evans for Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

"It's nothing against (Kotkaniemi) or anything else, but we have depth and we have options," Ducharme said, according to TSN's John Lu.

"Again, it's not punishment ... sometimes as a hockey player you face these moments," Ducharme added. "He's a good team guy and understands the situation even though nobody wants to sit."

Kotkaniemi, the 2018 third overall pick, has five goals and three assists in 19 playoff games this postseason. He has just one assist through three games against the Bolts.

Evans, meanwhile, has appeared in five postseason games, notching just one goal. He missed a majority of the playoffs with a concussion suffered on a hit from Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele in Round 2. 

Ducharme also announced that Alexander Romanov and Brett Kulak will enter on defense for Erik Gustafsson and Jon Merrill. In addition, Tyler Toffoli was promoted to the top line alongside Phillip Danault and Brendan Gallagher.