Canadiens vs Lightning: Game Thread, Lines, & TV Schedule

Most good things about the Habs this year seem to relate somehow to Carey Price. During another game-saving performance on Saturday in Long Island, Carey Price made the highlights for both his on-ice as well as humanitarian efforts, bringing smiles and warmth to Habs fans across a nation that has been cold for long enough, entering into a thaw that signifies more than just the change in season from winter to spring, but with 13 games left, represents the final weeks before the real competition for the Stanley Cup begins.

Leading up to the Stanley Cup playoffs, games like tonight's contest between two teams that intend to make a legitimate run at the Cup take on the added significance of providing a preview of what could be in a best-of-seven playoff series. Both teams sit tight in the standings, with the Habs holding a 2-point and 1-game advantage over the Lightning, however, looking more deeply at both teams shows the tale of one side being strong offensively (3rd in CF% with 53.7), controlling the play most of their games and relying on solid team defense and goaltending when needed. The other story is of a team that has depended on legendary goaltending (.939 team sv % and league best 2.17 GAA) and opportune scoring (two Habs players, Max Pacioretty and Lars Eller, account for 15 of the Habs' GWG this year - 9 for Max, 6 for Lars).

Since these teams met last week, the Habs have lost 1 and won 1, while the Bolts lost 2 games, including giving up a come-from-behind victory to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday night. The Habs have lost all three encounters with the Lightning this year, by a combined score of 12-3, and are coming off a win in Long Island on Saturday where they only held a 38.5 CF% and blocked 24 shots. It's hard to say whether a similar performance tonight will get the Habs a win or a loss. It all depends on what good things Carey Price has in store for us.

The puck drops at 7:30PM EST. Nathan Beaulieu is out with the flu, meaning Greg Pateryn finds his way back into the lineup.

Scratched: Mike Weaver, Manny Malholtra,  Sergei Gonchar
Injuries: Torrey Mitchell (upper-body), Nathan Beaulieu (flu)

Scratched: Nikita Nesterov, Ondrej Palat
Injuries: Cedric Paquette (upper-body), Braydon Coburn (lower-body), Mattias Ohlund

Check out the enemy over at Raw Charge.

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