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

Montreal looks to sweep Western Canada ahead of the holiday break.

The surging Montreal Canadiens are a confident team their last two games, and with good reason; they won both games, and have scored 10 goals in the process.

Montreal (16-15-4) came out of the NHL 100 Classic against the Ottawa Senators disappointed. They were shut out for the fifth time this season against a team they had beaten their two previous outings, and should have taken the two points. Unfortunately for them, Ottawa was hot in the cold, and Craig Anderson came up big when he had to, making 28 saves for his second shutout of the season.

After a couple of days to regroup, they traveled to Vancouver for a game against the struggling Vancouver Canucks. With goals coming from everywhere, Montreal wound up the better team, winning 7-5, with Carey Price winning in his home province and improving to 9-2-1-1 all time versus Vancouver.

Then last night, they faced off against the streaking Calgary Flames, and almost ran away with the game, dousing the Flames and going up 3-0 through the first 43 minutes. The ever-so-lethal fourth line of Daniel Carr, Nicolas Deslauriers and Byron Froese connected on the first two goals before Brendan Gallagher got his team-leading 14th of the season on a great pass from a healthy Arturri Lekhonen, who played in his first game after missing 16 with an upper body injury.

Calgary rebounded and got two goals in the third, but couldn't get another as Montreal took the game 3-2. Price made 21 saves in his 12th straight start for his 11th win of the season.

The Habs play one more game before getting a few days off for the holidays, taking on the Edmonton Oilers with a shot at a perfect Western Canada road swing.

Puck drop is at 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST

How to watch

In Canada: Sportsnet, Sportsnet Now (English), TVA Sports (French)
Elsewhere: NHL.tv/NHL GameCentre Live, NHL Center Ice

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Forwards

Left WingCentreRight Wing
Max PaciorettyJonathan DrouinPaul Byron
Alex GalchenyukPhillip DanaultAndrew Shaw
Artturi LehkonenTomas PlekanecBrendan Gallagher
Nicolas DeslauriersByron FroeseDaniel Carr

Defencemen

Left DefenceRight Defence
Karl AlznerJeff Petry
Jordie BennDavid Schlemko
Joe MorrowJakub Jerabek

Goaltenders

Goaltenders
Antti Niemi
Carey Price

Scratches: Charles Hudon, Jacob de la Rose, Brett Lernout

Injuries: Ales Hemsky (concussion-like symptoms), Al Montoya (concussion), Shea Weber (foot)

Edmonton Oilers projected lineup

Forwards

Left WingCentreRight Wing
Milan LucicConnor McDavidJesse Puljujarvi
Patrick MaroonRyan Nugent-HopkinsDrake Caggiula
Jujhar KhairaLeon DraisaitlRyan Strome
Michael CammalleriMark LetetsuZack Kassian

Defencemen

Left DefenceRight Defence
Darnell NurseKris Russell
Brandon DavidsonAdam Larsson
Andrej SekeraMatt Benning

Goaltenders

Goaltenders
Cam Talbot
Laurent Brossoit

Edmonton (16-17-2) is also hot as of late, currently sitting on their first three-game winning streak of the season, beating St. Louis, San Jose and Minnesota in the process.

Captain Connor McDavid is leading the Oilers with 41 points, good for fourth in the NHL scoring race, while teammates Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisaitl are tied for second with 26 points. Through their mini winning streak, both Nugent-Hopkins and Draisaitl have four points each (Nugent-Hopkins with two goals, two assists; Draisaitl with four assists).

The Oilers are currently five points out of a wild card spot, while Montreal is four, and with Christmas just a couple of days away, both would love a nice win before taking a couple of days with family, loved ones, and of course a glass of eggnog.

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