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

Montreal Canadiens @ Washington Capitals

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 Captaisl region: NBC Sports Washington
Streaming: NHL.tv/ NHL Live

The Montreal Canadiens are about to get busy after playing just one game in the past five days. A back-to-back set that concludes on home ice tomorrow first starts with a visit to Capital One Arena tonight.

The best team in the NHL awaits the Habs for this evening’s matchup. Perhaps inspired by the World Series championship of the Washington Nationals, the Capitals have taken points from 16 of their 20 games so far, and haven’t lost in regulation in over a month. Alex Ovechkin once again is scoring at a 50-goal clip, but it’s John Carlson who leads the team in scoring with 30 points.

The Capitals aren’t nearly as effective in their own end of the ice, allowing three goals per game, opting for offence over defence in the first quarter of their season — though getting the results to stick with it. There’s a chance for Montreal to score some goals tonight, perhaps enough to beat what Ovechkin is able to produce.

The Russian superstar enjoys playing Montreal. In 48 games he has 53 points, 31 of them goals. It’s more likely that he will score a goal than not, but Claude Julien will hope his defensive scheme can keep him off the scoreboard tonight. The plan worked to shut down the Boston Bruins’ top line several days ago, but the coach will have his hands full trying to ensure he gets his matchups on the road without last change.

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Injured: Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Scratched: Christian Folin, Mikey Reilly

Washington Capitals projected lineup