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

Montreal Canadiens @ Nashville Predators

How to watch

Start time: 8:00 PM EST / 5:00 PM PST
In the Canadiens region: TSN2, TSN Direct (English), RDS, RDS Direct (French)
In the Predators region: Fox Sports - Tennessee
Elsewhere: NHL.tv / Rogers NHL Live

The Canadiens get a new face in the lineup this evening as Nate Thompson makes his Habs debut in Nashville. Marc Bergevin and Claude Julien are hoping he can be a solution to what has been a revolving cast of characters on the fourth line the past few seasons. He will get a tough test in his first game in the bleu, blanc, et rouge with a road matchup against one of the top teams in the west.

A more familiar name will also be heard tonight as Dale Weise plays his first game since being reacquired. He’s also part of the recent attempt to bolster the fourth line, getting promoted from AHL status to join the NHL club.

While the Predators are just a handful of points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the Central Division lead, they hold one of the lowest home winning percentages of any team currently in a division seed in the Western Conference, and are just 3-4-1 at Bridgestone Arena since a six-game road trip in early January.

Nashville does have last change, but there’s still a chance for Montreal to come away with another win, which would secure them a points percentage above .500 on their current four-game run against top teams, passing the test that faced them on their quest to secure a playoff spot. It could all come down to whether the fourth line is able to keep its head above water tonight.

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Forwards

Defencemen

Goaltenders

Nashville Predators projected lineup

Forwards

Defencemen

Goaltenders