Canadiens @ Jets Round 2 Game 1: Game thread, rosters, lines, and how to watch

2021 North Division Final Game 1

Montreal Canadiens @ Winnipeg Jets

How to watch

Start time: 7:30 PM EDT / 4:30 PM PDT
In Canada: CBC, Sportsnet (English), TVA Sports (French)
In the U.S.: NBCSN
Streaming: NHL.tv/NHL Live, Sportsnet Now

but first...

NHL Entry Draft Lottery

Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT
In Canada: Sportsnet (English), TVA Sports (French)
In the U.S.: NHL Network, NBCSN
Streaming: NHL.tv/NHL Live, Sportsnet Now

This year’s draft lottery will determine the top two picks in the NHL Entry Draft. The Buffalo Sabres (16.6%), Anaheim Ducks (12.1%), expansion Seattle Kraken (10.3%), and New Jersey Devils (also 10.3%) have the best odds of claiming first overall.

While much of the media is still poking at the Toronto Maple Leafs’ corpse two days after they were beaten in seven games, the Montreal Canadiens are warming up to begin a new series versus the Winnipeg Jets. The winner claims the first and last championship of the one-off North Division, earning the official right to be dubbed “Canada’s team.”

In the regular season, the Jets held the edge with six wins in nine contests, three of them coming in overtime as the Habs struggled with the three-on-three period. The Canadiens were glad to have that format over and done with at the end of the season, and their 2-0 record in sudden death in the first round proves it.

In those two games it was the youngest players giving Montreal the edge, and things should be the same in this new best-of-seven set. All of Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Nick Suzuki, and Cole Caufield are firmly established in the lineup, and feeling confident in their abilities. If the Jets’ play all season long, including the first round, is any indication, they will have their opportunities to add to their offensive totals. They just need to get beyond the last line of defence in the form of Connor Hellebuyck that proved impenetrable for the mighty Edmonton Oilers offence. It’s going to take a four-line barrage to break down that wall and get Montreal the goals it needs.

Winnipeg’s most lethal weapon is its power play. It was seventh in the league at 23.0% in the regular season, and operating at a 30.0% clip versus Edmonton. The good news is Montreal has shored up its penalty kill as the season has worn on. It climbed up to 23rd in the final weeks of the season after being close to the bottom for much of it, and it goes into this game ranked number two of the 16 playoff teams, just marginally behind the Carolina Hurricanes’. Carey Price has been a major reason why the efficiency is so high, but the team in general has committed to a more engaged style of defence. That will need to continue to hold another skilled group of forwards at bay in Round 2.

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Scratches

F: Alex Belzile, Laurent Dauphin, Michael Frolik, Tomas Tatar, Lukas Vejdemo, Jesse Ylönen
D: Cale Fleury, Otto Leskinen, Xavier Ouellet, Alexander Romanov
G: Charlie Lindgren, Michael McNiven, Cayden Primeau

Injured/Ill

F: Jonathan Drouin (leave of absence), Artturi Lehkonen, Jon Merrill

Winnipeg Jets projected lineup