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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

Left Wing Centre Right Wing
Jonathan Drouin Phillip Danault Brendan Gallagher
Tomas Tatar Max Domi Andrew Shaw
Artturi Lehkonen Jesperi Kotkaniemi Joel Armia
Nicolas Deslauriers Nate Thompson Dale Weise

Defencemen

Left Defence Right Defence
Victor Mete Shea Weber
Mikey Reilly Jeff Petry
Brett Kulak Jordie Benn

Goaltenders

Goaltenders
Carey Price
Antti Niemi

Nashville Predators projected lineup

Forwards

Left Wing Centre Right Wing
Filip Forsberg Ryan Johansen Viktor Arvidsson
Kevin Fiala Nick Bonino Craig Smith
Colton Sissons Brian Boyle Ryan Hartman
Calle Jarnkrok Kyle Turris Rocco Grimaldi

Defencemen

Left Defence Right Defence
Roman Josi Ryan Ellis
Dan Hamhuis P.K. Subban
Matt Irwin Yannick Weber

Goaltenders

Goaltenders
Pekka Rinne
Juuse Saros

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