Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs: Game thread, rosters, lines and how to watch

After another lackluster effort against the New York Islanders on Thursday, the Montréal Canadiens will need to try better against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that is closing in on them — like so many other teams in the Atlantic Division. The Leafs are only four points behind with a game in hand, with tonight’s contest being a potential “four-point game” in the standings.

After generating no offence against the Isles, head coach Claude Julien shifted the forwards around in practice the next day. The biggest winner is Artturi Lehkonen, who gets to stay on the second offensive line with Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher after Julien put him there late in Thursday’s game. While offering that line better support at both ends of the ice, he also will be able to get more offensive opportunities.

David Desharnais and Sven Andrighetto are both returning to the lineup, and they will play alongside Torrey Mitchell on the fourth line to start the game. The Habs are trying to boost their scoring, as all these changes make clear. The hope is also that the players coming into the lineup can find motivation from being healthy scratches for so long and try to play their way up the forward depth chart.

Puck Drop: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST

How to watch:

Canada (English): CBC, CityTV

Canada (French): TVA Sports

Elsewhere: NHL.tv/NHL Gamecentre Live, NHL Centre Ice

Montréal Canadiens Projected Lineup

Forwards

Defencemen

Goaltenders

Scratched: Brian Flynn, Michael McCarron, Greg Pateryn

Toronto Maple Leafs projected lineup

Forwards

Scratched: Martin Marincin

Injured: Mitchell Marner, Connor Carrick, Tyler Bozak