The Montreal Canadiens have released the lineup that will take to the ice in Quebec City tonight against the Boston Bruins in the official opener of the pre-season.
La formation de ce soir à Québec c. Boston. / Tonight’s lineup vs. Boston in Quebec City. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/nEHhWkfnsj
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 18, 2017
Zach Fucale and Al Montoya will split the goaltending duties tonight. Fucale, a Montreal native, played briefly with the Quebec Remparts to end his QMJHL career.
Claude Julien said he would try and ice a lineup with a Quebec focus, and he’s done that with seven players with Quebec roots (eight if you include Paul Byron) in the lineup. However, notable exclusions include Jonathan Drouin, Charles Hudon and Simon Bourque.
Pre-season lineups are a juggling act as you need to balance veteran requirements, rest and opportunities all while playing players in positions you want them to get practice in.
With Danault in the lineup, it means that the crowd in Quebec City will also get to see Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher. Newcomer Karl Alzner will also play his first game for the Habs.
Even though there are seven defencemen listed, it appears as though Matt Taormina will be the odd man out as he did not skate this morning.
Puck drop is 7:00 p.m.
Here are the lines:
Défenseurs #CH:
Alzner-Lernout;
Morrow-Petry;
Gelinas-Juulsen.
G: Fucale-Montoya.— Chantal Machabee (@ChantalMachabee) September 18, 2017
Habs lines for preseason opener: Galchenyuk-Danault-Gallagher; Byron-Mitchell-Shaw; De La Rose-McCarron-Gregoire; Froese-Audette-Waked
— Аrpon Basu (@ArponBasu) September 18, 2017
