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

Montreal Canadiens vs. Arizona Coyotes

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 Coyotes region: Fox Sports Arizona Plus
Streaming: NHL.tv/NHL Live

Just as the Canadiens got some relief when Jonathan Drouin returned to the lineup after a lengthy absence, the Coyotes may be getting some key additions back tonight as well. Both regular starting goalie Darcy Kuemper and number-one defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson are game-time decisions.

Kuemper has been one of the best goalies in the league this season, making up for a lack of offence from his own team by limiting opponents to even less. Ekman-Larsson typically helps out at the opposite end, though it has been a down year for the captain, well under his typical 40-point pace. He’s just one of the players having a difficult season on offence; frustrating for a club that doesn’t need many to come on top on a given night.

The Canadiens are capable of getting offence from any of their four lines, but we saw once again on Saturday night what happens when they come up against a team committed to limiting their space. The Habs will need to break through the defences of a Coyotes squad playing a shutdown road game if they are to run their winning streak to four.

UPDATE: Kuemper is indeed not ready to return after a setback at morning skate in Montreal this morning. Antti Raanta is expected to get the start instead.

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Arizona Coyotes projected lineup