How to watch
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST
In Canada: CityTV, Sportsnet East/360, Sportsnet Now (English), TVA Sports (French)
In the Lightning region: SUN
Streaming: NHL.tv/NHL Live
The Canadiens may have added a forward back into the mix over the Christmas break, as Jesperi Kotkaniemi returns to the lineup, dropping into Nick Suzuki’s spot at third-line centre. However, the wrist injury Joel Armia sustained in Winnipeg in the Canadiens’ last game has another Finn on the sidelines, creating the hole Suzuki will fill in tonight’s game.
Armia’s loss is a big one. His size and puck-protection skills will be sorely missed versus a skilled division rival. The good news is that after several games of trying to work with some linemates who weren’t quite at his level, Suzuki gets to play alongside some players more likely to generate some offence, and that line could be a key one in tonight’s game.
Montreal Canadiens projected lineup
Forwards
Left Wing |
Centre |
Right Wing |
Left Wing |
Centre |
Right Wing |
Tomas Tatar |
Phillip Danault |
Brendan Gallagher |
Artturi Lehkonen |
Max Domi |
Nick Suzuki |
Nick Cousins |
Jesperi Kotkaniemi |
Jordan Weal |
Ryan Poehling |
Nate Thompson |
Riley Barber |
Defencemen
Left Defence |
Right Defence |
Left Defence |
Right Defence |
Ben Chiarot |
Shea Weber |
Victor Mete |
Jeff Petry |
Brett Kulak |
Cale Fleury |
Goaltenders
Goaltenders |
Goaltenders |
Carey Price |
Charlie Lindgren |
Injured: Joel Armia, Paul Byron, Jonathan Drouin, Victor Mete, Matthew Peca
Scratched: Christian Folin, Mikey Reilly, Lukas Vejdemo
Tampa Bay Lightning projected lineup
Forwards
Left Wing |
Centre |
Right Wing |
Left Wing |
Centre |
Right Wing |
Ondrej Palat |
Brayden Point |
Nikita Kucherov |
Alex Killorn |
Anthony Cirelli |
Steven Stamkos |
Patrick Maroon |
Cedric Paquette |
Carter Verhaeghe |
Yanni Gourde |
Tyler Johnson |
Mathieu Joseph |
Defencemen
Left Defence |
Right Defence |
Left Defence |
Right Defence |
Victor Hedman |
Jan Rutta |
Ryan McDonagh |
Erik Cernak |
Mikhail Sergachev |
Kevin Shattenkirk |
Goaltenders
Goaltenders |
Goaltenders |
Andrei Vasilevskiy |
Curtis McElhinney |