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

Montreal Canadiens vs. Vancouver Canucks

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 Canucks region: Sportsnet Pacific
Streaming: NHL.tv/NHL Live

Despite being in position to buy at the deadline, some injury issues have somewhat derailed the Vancouver Canucks’ post-season plans. They will be missing Brock Boeser for a significant period of time, and after their last game learned that starting netminder Jacob Markstrom would miss nearly a month with a lower-body injury.

Instead of trying to build up some momentum on the road to the playoffs, Jim Benning instead had to patch a large hole, adding Louis Domingue to help cover Markstrom’s absence.

Marc Bergevin sold off several of his players on expiring contracts, getting draft picks in return to increase the stockpile for both 2020 and 2021. The team had to recall a player to get back to 12 forwards, so Jake Evans returns to the NHL, where it’s possible he will stay for the remaining 18 games.

The most interesting aspect of tonight’s match is watching those young players in elevated roles. Evans is joined by Nick Suzuki in Montreal’s lineup, while the Canucks still boast some of the league’s top talent in Elias Pettersson and Calder Trophy candidate Quinn Hughes. Vancouver has come to enjoy plenty of offence from those players, and that’s a situation the Canadiens are hoping to see happen over the next few years with prospects of their own.

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Vancouver Canucks projected lineup