The Montreal Canadiens host the Ottawa Senators tonight at the Bell Centre. After making cuts on Friday, the team is getting closer to what we will see on opening night, with several of the NHL players taking to the ice tonight.
Montreal Canadiens projected lineup
Forwards
Jonathan Drouin – Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Joel Armia
Tomas Tatar – Phillip Danault – Brendan Gallagher
Paul Byron – Tomas Plekanec – Nikita Scherbak
Hunter Shinkaruk – Michael McCarron – Joel Ward
With the absence of Max Domi due to his five-game suspension, Jesperi Kotkaniemi will take his place, slotting in between Jonathan Drouin and Joel Armia. The Canadiens will get another look at Joel Ward as well, after he had a good outing in Thursday’s game in Quebec City.
Defencemen
Jordie Benn – Jeff Petry
Victor Mete – Noah Juulsen
Karl Alzner – Mikey Reilly
The pairing of Mete and Juulsen remains intact from the start of camp. They have been very good together, and it will be interesting to see if they take spots on the roster, or if the team decides to send them to Laval to be the top pairing for the Rocket this season.
Goaltenders
Carey Price
Charlie Lindgren
Price will play the full 60 minutes of tonight’s game, and will probably get into just one more of the remaining three matches the team plays as the staff shifts focus to the battle for the backup role.
