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

Montreal Canadiens @ Columbus Blue Jackets

How to watch

Start time: 7:30 PM EST / 4:30 PM PST
In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French)
In the Blue Jackets region: Fox Sports – Ohio
Elsewhere: NHL.tv / Rogers NHL Live

Paul Byron was activated off the Injured Reserve list today, meaning Claude Julien needed to make a few tweaks to his lineup, While he was at it, he decided to make a series of shuffles among the forward corps.

Byron himself will be playing opposite Andrew Shaw, with Jesperi Kotkaniemi in the middle, which should be an interesting group to watch. After a few costly errors, Jonathan Drouin is off the top line and back with Max Domi as Tomas Tatar reclaims his position as Phillip Danault’s left-winger. Artturi Lehkonen and Joel Armia are no longer with the Canadiens’ Finnish rookie, but the hope seems to be they can provide some stability to lines that otherwise are built from primarily offensive-minded players.

While the Canadiens get an addition, the Blue Jackets see a major subtraction, as team scoring leader Artemi Panarin is out of the lineup tonight. It’s a major blow to a team fighting for its own position in the playoff race, but one that the Canadiens will welcome as they look to snap a four-game winless streak.

UPDATE: Turns out Julien was having too much fun changing the pieces around. With Danault absent tonight, Nate Thompson will be the top-line centre, while Shaw and Armia are on the second and third lines, respectively.

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Forwards

Defencemen

Goaltenders

Columbus Blue Jackets projected lineup

Forwards

Defencemen

Goaltenders