Game 14: Montreal Canadiens @ New Jersey Devils
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST
In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French)
In the Devils region: MSGSN
Streaming: ESPN+, TSN+
The NHL probably didn’t think much of a Thursday-night game in November between the Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils when it put the schedule together, but with almost one-fifth of the season played, it will be a battle for top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Canadiens hold a 9-3-1 record on the season, the Devils are one point back at 9-4-0.
New Jersey has typically given the Habs trouble in recent years, winning 16 of the past 20 head-to-head battles, and the last four in a row. They always seem to put forth one of their best offensive games when Montreal lines up on the opposite side, and they found the net at least four times in each of the three games played a season ago.
This time around, Montreal has the ability to match that production thanks to the emergence of Ivan Demidov and his effect on Alex Newhook so far this year. Montreal has usually had to get by on whatever Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield could muster, but there’s a second line providing significant support in 2025-26. Demidov is just four points back of Caufield, nearly a point-per-game player in his rookie season, while Newhook enters the game with seven points in his last seven games.
The Devils have proven particularly tough on home ice, and they currently sit as the only NHL team to not drop a point in front of their home fans. Montreal will need its power play to keep finding success and for Jakub Dobeš to continue his excellent start to the season if the Canadiens are going to win this duel to become the first team to 10 wins on the season.
Montreal Canadiens projected lineup
| Left Wing | Centre | Right Wing |
|---|---|---|
| #13 Cole Caufield | #14 Nick Suzuki | #20 Juraj Slafkovský |
| #15 Alex Newhook | #91 Oliver Kapanen | #93 Ivan Demidov |
| #76 Zachary Bolduc | #77 Kirby Dach | #11 Brendan Gallagher |
| #17 Josh Anderson | #71 Jake Evans | #90 Joe Veleno |
| Left Defence | Right Defence |
|---|---|
| #8 Mike Matheson | #53 Noah Dobson |
| #47 Jayden Struble | #48 Lane Hutson |
| #72 Arber Xhekaj | #45 Alexandre Carrier |
| Starter | Backup |
|---|---|
| #75 Jakub Dobeš | #35 Samuel Montembeault |
Scratched: Marc Del Gaizo
Injured: Kaiden Guhle, Patrik Laine
New Jersey Devils projected lineup
| Left Wing | Centre | Right Wing |
|---|---|---|
| Stefan Noesen | Jack Hughes | Jesper Bratt |
| Timo Meier | Nico Hischier | Dawson Mercer |
| Ondrej Palat | Cody Glass | Arseny Gritsyuk |
| Paul Cotter | Juho Lammiko | Luke Glendening |
| Left Defence | Right Defence |
|---|---|
| Jonas Siegenthaler | Dougie Hamilton |
| Brenden Dillon | Luke Hughes |
| Dennis Cholowski | Simon Nemec |
| Starter | Backup |
|---|---|
| Jacob Markstrom | Jake Allen |
