Canadiens vs. Penguins: Game thread, rosters, lines, and how to watch

For the third time in 17 days, the Montreal Canadiens will play the Pittsburgh Penguins. They’re looking to get their first win versus the second seed in the Metropolitan Division this season.

The previous two contests were both 5-3 losses, as the Habs matched the effort but not the offence of the defending Stanley Cup champs. The Penguins have three star forwards scoring at better than a point-per-game pace, proving a tough challenge for any team, let alone one ranking near the bottom of the league standings.

The Canadiens will counter with Antti Niemi in net, and also see the return of David Schlemko to the lineup for the first time since March 3. To make the space, Mike Reilly will sit on the sidelines for tonight’s game.

The Canadies also called up Kerby Rychel from the AHL yesterday, but he will not be in the lineup tonight. Claude Julien instead elected to save Rychel’s first game in the NHL in nearly two years for tomorrow’s contest versus the New Jersey Devils.

Puck drop is at 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT

How to watch

In Canada: Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet Now, CityTV (English), TVA Sports (French)
In the USA: NHL Network
In the Penguins region: ATTSN-PT
Elsewhere: NHL.tv/NHL GameCentre Live, NHL Center Ice

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Pittsburgh Penguins projected lineup