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

Montreal Canadiens vs. Dallas Stars

How to watch

Start time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT
In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French)
In the Stars region: Bally Sports Southwest
Streaming: ESPN+, NHL Live, RDS Direct, TSN Direct

Jake Allen is finally back in the net tonight, returning from a lower-body injury he sustained in January. That gives Samuel Montembeault a rest after five consecutive starts, though he was pulled in the last game as the Arizona Coyotes exploded out of the gate to chase him early.

Christian Dvorak is also back in the mix, with trade speculation swirling over a player originally brought in to be a long-term presence on the team. He reprises his spot at second-line centre, and gets surrounded by two hard-working wingers tonight to ensure he has a chance to make an impact. A promotion to the top line for Joel Armia to play with Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki can only be interpreted as a showcase as well.

The motivation for this game will be to match the desperation level of a Dallas Stars team fighting for a playoff spot. A game versus a team at the bottom of the standings should be a win for them, but the Habs haven’t been making anything easy for their opponents.

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Dallas Stars projected lineup