Canadiens vs Blue Jackets game thread

The Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets meet tonight for their 15th ever regular season game, their first this season, with both teams coming off the heels of two-game losing streaks.

The Habs are in Columbus tonight to face a team that is on the rise. While Habs fans reveled in a great month of December for their team, the Blue Jackets have been quietly climbing the standings putting together a record of 10-1-1 in the month of December before cooling off over the last five games, only winning two of five.

The Habs spent some time in practice this week  working on their powerplay. Inadvertently, it ended up giving a boost to their penalty-kill as the powerplay couldn't net one past Carey Price, leading to Brandon Prust taking matters into his own hands and hiding his goaltender's mask. Using that tactic tonight against the Blue Jackets might be a good last resort. Otherwise, having P.A. Parenteau back in the lineup and playing on the first powerplay unit on the blue-line with P.K. Subban might give a give an edge to a powerplay that is more like a dull spoon in the Habs' offensive arsenal than a razor-sharp dagger the talent in this lineup suggests it should be.

The teams hit the ice at 7:00 PM EST. Go Habs Go!

In Canada (English): Sportsnet
In Canada (French): RDS
In the Columbus Region: FSOH
Elsewhere: NHL Center Ice or NHL Gamecenter Live

There's a change to the Habs' lineup tonight with the return of P.A. Parenteau. Christian Thomas will sit.

Scratched: Mike Weaver, Christian Thomas

Injuries: None

Scratched: Cody Goloubef, Jordan Leoplold

Injuries: Jack Skille (lower-body), Boone Jenner (back), Brian Gibbons (knee), Artem Anisimov (arm), Ryan Murray (knee), Nathan Horton (back)

Check out the opposing side at The Cannon.