Game 40: Montreal Canadiens @ Carolina Hurricanes
Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST
In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French)
In the Hurricanes region: FanDuel Sports Network South
Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+
The Canadiens improved their record versus Atlantic Division teams with an overtime win in Florida last game. But they haven’t done well versus Metropolitan Division opponents, the only Atlantic team with a points percentage below .500 versus Metro counterparts, at a 2-3-5 record.
Changing that will require them to beat the Carolina Hurricanes in their own arena, not easy considering the Hurricanes’ 13-6-1 mark at Lenovo Center. Ideally the Canadiens won’t fall behind in this game and need a comeback effort yet again, so a good start will be key to force the Hurricanes to push for offence rather than clamp down on a lead.
Jakub Dobeš will play this game, his first start since a shootout loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 21. The other lineup change is Jayden Struble swapping in in Adam Engström’s spot, leaving the lineup mostly intact from the one that came back to take two points on Tuesday.
Montreal Canadiens projected lineup
| Left Wing |
Centre |
Right Wing |
| #20 Juraj Slafkovský |
#91 Oliver Kapanen |
#93 Ivan Demidov |
| #13 Cole Caufield |
#14 Nick Suzuki |
#85 Alexandre Texier |
| #76 Zachary Bolduc |
#24 Phillip Danault |
#17 Josh Anderson |
| #27 Sammy Blais |
#90 Joe Veleno |
#11 Brendan Gallagher |
| Left Defence |
Right Defence |
| #48 Lane Hutson |
#45 Alexandre Carrier |
| #42 Adam Engström |
#53 Noah Dobson |
| #72 Arber Xhekaj |
#47 Jayden Struble |
| Starter |
Backup |
| #75 Jakub Dobeš |
#35 Samuel Montembeault |
Scratched: Owen Beck, Jacob Fowler
Injured: Kirby Dach, Jake Evans, Kaiden Guhle, Patrik Laine, Mike Matheson, Alex Newhook
Carolina Hurricanes projected lineup
| Left Wing |
Centre |
Right Wing |
| Nikolaj Ehlers |
Sebastian Aho |
Andrei Svechnikov |
| Eric Robinson |
Logan Stankoven |
Jackson Blake |
| William Carrier |
Jordan Staal |
Jordan Martinook |
| Taylor Hall |
Mark Jankowski |
Jesperi Kotkaniemi |
| Left Defence |
Right Defence |
| Alexander Nikishin |
Sean Walker |
| K’andre Miller |
Jalen Chatfield |
| Mikey Reilly |
Joel Nystrom |
| Starter |
Backup |
| Brandon Bussi |
Frederik Andersen |
