How to watch
Puck drop: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST
In Canada: CBC, Sportsnet One, Sportsnet Now (English), TVA Sports (French)
Elsewhere: NHL.tv/Rogers NHL Live
After claiming a win in their last outing versus the Calgary Flames, the Montreal Canadiens will send out the same lineup on Saturday night. That does mean that the skaters will be the same ones that saw 45 shots come their way on Thursday.
They were able to survive against the Flames, but the Vancouver Canucks are loaded with offensive talent in the top six that may not convert on only two of their chances. The biggest threat will be rookie Elias Pettersson, who picked up right where he left off with the Växjö Lakers last year; in fact, he’s scoring goals at an ever higher rate than he did in the SHL. His 10 goals lead all first-year players, and he ranks high in the Rocket Richard Trophy race despite playing just 15 games so far.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi is also impressing after spending last season in a Europeans pro league. It took him a while to finally find that first NHL goal, but he now has three on the year, and is one of just six rookies to hit double digits in points so far this season.
Tonight’s matchup pits two teams currently constructed more with offence in mind. Whichever one is able to limit the chances of the skilled young players on the other side could very well be the one to exit the contest with two points in hand.
Montreal Canadiens projected lineup
Forwards
| Left Wing |
Centre |
Right Wing |
| Tomas Tatar |
Phillip Danault |
Brendan Gallagher |
| Jonathan Drouin |
Max Domi |
Andrew Shaw |
| Kenny Agostino |
Jesperi Kotkaniemi |
Artturi Lehkonen |
| Nicolas Deslauriers |
Matthew Peca |
Charles Hudon |
Defencemen
| Left Defence |
Right Defence |
| Jordie Benn |
Jeff Petry |
| David Schlemko |
Noah Juulsen |
| Xavier Ouellet |
Victor Mete |
Goaltenders
| Goaltenders |
| Carey Price |
| Antti Niemi |
Vancouver Canucks projected lineup
Forwards
| Left Wing |
Centre |
Right Wing |
| Antoine Roussel |
Bo Horvat |
Jake Virtanen |
| Nikolay Goldobin |
Elias Pettersson |
Loui Eriksson |
| Darren Archibald |
Markus Granlund |
Tyler Motte |
| Tim Schaller |
Adam Gaudette |
Brendan Leipsic |
Defencemen
| Left Defence |
Right Defence |
| Ben Hutton |
Erik Gudbranson |
| Derrick Pouliot |
Chris Tanev |
| Michael Del Zotto |
Troy Stecher |
Goaltenders
| Goaltenders |
| Jacob Markstrom |
| Richard Bachman |
