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

Montreal Canadiens vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

How to watch

Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST
In Canada: Sportsnet E/O/P/360, Sportsnet Now (English), TVA Sports (French)
In the Penguins region: ATTN Pittsburgh
Elsewhere: NHL.tv / Rogers NHL Live

With the Columbus Blue Jackets losing this afternoon to the Edmonton Oilers, the door to a playoff position opened a fraction more for the Canadiens and Penguins. Pittsburgh and Columbus are temporarily back on even terms in both games played and points, both still two points back of Montreal.

The Canadiens can do themselves a major favour by getting a win in regulation versus the Penguins tonight, extending that lead to four with just 16 more games on the docket. Montreal already took care of business earlier in the year, winning the first two games of the season series, helping them to the position they currently hold.

Recognizing the importance of the game — one of the biggest of the NHL calendar so far — both teams will be sending out their starting netminders for the second time in 24 hours, with the need to win taking precedence over the desire for rest. It’s a gamble for each side with the threat of fatigue setting in before the playoffs even arrive, but at this moment the only focus can be on ranking among the top eight clubs in the Eastern Conference, and worrying about everything else later.

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Pittsburgh Penguins projected lineup