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

Montreal Canadiens @ Chicago Blackhawks

How to watch

Start time: 8:30 PM EST / 5:30 PM PST
In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French)
In the Blackhawks region: NBC Sports Chicago
Streaming: ESPN+, NHL Live, RDS Direct, TSN Direct

Not long into their first game back from a long break that was supposed to restore much of the lineup for the Montreal Canadiens, Jake Allen went down with an injury on the first goal of the game that indirectly led to a second mere moments later. With that, the game was essentially over for a team averaging just slightly more than two goals per game, and they’ll have to continue on their road trip without Allen’s services.

Tonight, it’s Samuel Montembeault who gets a second straight appearance behind a modified group of skaters. Chris Wideman has been suspended, and Cedric Paquette injured, so Corey Schueneman draws in on defence, while Rem Pitlick dresses for his first game with his new team. The returns of Jake Evans and Alexander Romanov after the two were held out of the lineup in Boston spell Lukas Vejdemo and Sami Niku from the formation for this game.

The Blackhawks have a new face of their own in the lineup with Lukas Reichel, a first-round pick from the 2020 NHL Draft, slotting in not to a depth role to get his bearings in the top league, but onto a line with Patrick Kane to show off his offensive talents. The Canadiens had a first NHL goal against them rescinded after last night’s game as Urho Vaakanainen’s marker was credited to someone else instead. Can the Habs dodge another first goal from a rookie opponent tonight?

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Forwards

Defencemen

Goaltenders

Chicago Blackhawks projected lineup

Forwards

Defencemen

Goaltenders