Canadiens @ Panthers: Game thread, rosters, lines, and how to watch

Montreal Canadiens @ Florida Panthers

How to watch

Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST
In the Canadiens region: TSN2, TSN Direct (English), RDS, RDS Direct (French)
In the Panthers region: Fox Sports Florida
Elsewhere: NHL.tv/Rogers NHL Live

It’s been a while since we’ve seen the Montreal Canadiens take to the ice for a game. They left for the Christmas break on a high note, with Phillip Danault registering his first NHL hat trick, Victor Mete using his speed and confidence to play ever square inch of the rink, and Paul Byron being rewarded with an overtime-winner to give the Canadiens — and Carey Price — back-to-back wins.

Now starting another three-game road trip tonight, the team is without Price in goal, turning to Antti Niemi to help keep the good stretch rolling. It won’t be an easy road through Florida, beginning with a game against a Panthers team that may be finally putting things together after a disappointing start. The club has won four of its last five games after an 11-13-6 start.

Montreal would like to get a win to start off the post-Christmas slate to take some additional confidence into what it going to be a difficult contest against the Tampa Bay Lightning tomorrow night. However, the Panthers are going to put up a fight against their division rival, having a chance to extend a shutout streak over to Montreal to four games.

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Florida Panthers projected lineup