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

Montreal Canadiens vs. Florida Panthers

How to watch

Start time: 7:30 PM EDT / 4:30 PM PDT
In the Canadiens region: TSN2, TSN Direct (English), RDS, RDS Direct (French)
In the Panthers region: Fox Sports - Florida
Elsewhere: NHL.tv / Rogers NHL Live

There’s a massive clash coming up in a few days’ time between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens that could have a large say in which team makes the post-season. You can expect a playoff atmosphere at Nationwide Arena for that pivotal matchup.

But before either team gets to that point, they first have to get through an intradivisional contest this evening. The Blue Jeckets welcome the New York Islanders to town, while Montreal has returned home to battle the Florida Panthers for the fourth and final time this year.

The Canadiens handled the Panthers in the first two games, but fell to Aleksander Barkov and co. on February 17 — coincidentally, also two nights before a meeting with Columbus. It was a fourth consecutive loss for Montreal after difficult games against Toronto, Nashville, and Tampa Bay, but fortunately the Habs were able to correct course for what was, in hindsight, one of the more important wins of the year.

To go into what may turn out to be a playoff play-in game on Thursday night with their wild-card position intact, the Canadiens will need to take care of the challenge directly in front of them, and that means limiting the chances for the talented young squad of forwards Florida will deploy.

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Florida Panthers projected lineup