Canadiens @ Oilers: Game thread, rosters, lines, and how to watch

Montreal Canadiens @ Edmonton Oilers

How to watch

Start time: 9:00 PM EDT / 6:00 PM PDT
In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French)
In the Oilers region: Sportsnet West
Streaming: NHL.tv/NHL Live, RDS Direct, Sportsnet Now, TSN Direct

A day after getting a big win over the Calgary Flames, the Canadiens forgot to show up to the rink for a match with the Ottawa Senators. The team with the fewest points in the division took a 4-0 victory, not just a rare win for them, but one of their largest margins of victory all season.

With one of the teams the Habs have a shot of catching, the effort will surely be much better this evening. And that effort has been there versus Edmonton all season long, with a 4-1 record versus the team seven points up on them. This two-game set is a chance to gain ground, but Habs fans would just like to see them get one win tonight to erase the taste of Saturday’s loss.

As they have the whole season to this point, Montreal will need to shut down Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and that assignment is somewhat easier with them both playing on the same line. If the defence can frustrate them, the Oilers don’t even have Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the lineup to share the load this evening. It’s a rather weak bottom nine the Canadiens will face, and there are two points for the taking if the Habs decide they want them.

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Scratched: Jake Evans
Injured: Brendan Gallagher (broken thumb)
COVID unavailable list: Erik Gustafsson, Jon Merrill

Edmonton Oilers projected lineup