Canadiens @ Senators: Pre-season Game 3 preview, start time, and how to watch

Pre-season Game 3: Montreal Canadiens @ Ottawa Senators

How to watch

Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT
In the Canadiens region: TSN2, RDS
In the Senators region: TSN5
Streaming: NHL.tv/NHL Live, RDS Direct, TSN Direct

The Canadiens have played two games of their pre-season slate of six, and now have a back-to-back set with the Ottawa Senators this weekend.

Ottawa has one of the yougest rosters in the league, and a roster filled with quality prospects, but one significant piece has been absent in training camp: their leading scorer from the past two seasons. Brady Tkachuk doesn’t yet have a contract after his ELC expired at the end of last year, nor do the sides seem to be particularly close to getting one done.

It’s a tough situation for a club that was hoping to at least keep the top teams honest in what projects to be the toughest division in the NHL. If there’s any good news, it’s that this wasn’t expected to be a contending season, but rather one of getting their players prepared to open that window in the next few years.

Of the Senators forwards who will skate onto the ice at Canadian Tire Centre tonight, only five are over the age of 23. They’re backed up by a relatively young defence that is still finding its way in the league as well.

View from the Other Side

Ottawa Senators blog Silver Seven

Ryan Poehling was ramping up last season to fight for a centre position this year, but now may have that position by default with the departures of Phillip Danault and Tkachuk’s 2018 NHL Draft classmate Jesperi Kotkaniemi. It’s between him and Cedric Paquette, with the groomed draftee likely holding the upper hand at the moment. Poehling will take advantage of Paquette’s day-to-day injury and is expected to play both of this weekend’s games.

Jake Allen will be playing the full 60 minutes on Friday, meaning the battle for the third spot on the Canadiens depth chart behind Carey Price (who is set to resume skating on Monday) and Allen will likely go to Saturday.

There is a lot to play for for players on the bubble. Dominique Ducharme says that he hopes to have the roster down to 25 or 26 players by the end of the weekend.

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Ottawa Senators projected roster