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

Montreal Canadiens @ New York Islanders

How to watch

Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT
In the Canadiens region: TSN2, TSN Direct (English), RDS, RDS Direct (French)
In the Islanders region: MSG+
Elsewhere: NHL.tv / Rogers NHL Live

With just a few more weeks left in the regular season, the importance of each game is elevated. Tonight’s match between the Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders isn’t one directly for playoff positioning, or even between division rivals, but each team is still eager to come away with the win.

The Islanders can move into a tie with the Washington Capitals atop the Metropolitan Division with a win and a Capitals loss. The departure of John Tavares hasn’t been as bad as many predicted, mainly because the team rarely allows opponents to score. The Islanders are the stingiest team in the NHL, surrendering just 2.36 goals per game, with both goalies occupying spots in the league’s top five for save percentage.

Montreal will be hoping that gap at the top of the Metro extends to four points, with a win for themselves and a regulation loss by the Philadelphia Flyers being the ideal outcomes for both games. Currently outside of a playoff position, the team behind can’t be a main concern for the Habs, but gaining some distance from one of the teams with designs on locking them out of the post-season is never a bad thing at this time of year.

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

New York Islanders projected lineup