Canadiens @ Mammoth: Game thread and lines

Game 22: Montreal Canadiens @ Utah Mammoth

Start time: **9:30 PM EST / 6:30 PM PST**
In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French)
In the Mammoth region: Utah16
Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+

Martin St-Louis said following Adam Engström’s recall from the Laval Rocket that he didn’t know if the defenceman would see his first NHL action on the trip, but for the second consecutive game we will see a rookie take his first lap in the big leagues. With Florian Xhekaj still in after recording a point in his debut, the Canadiens will have six rookies in the lineup to face the Utah Mammoth.

It did make sense for this to be the first game Engström played with the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche waiting for a back-to-back to end the week. Montreal already knows what to expect from a Mammoth team they just played on November 8, and Engström might be able to get away with an error or two.

Utah has played well at home this year, winning seven of 10 games played in Salt Lake City, allowing just 2.50 goals per game in their own building and killing off 85.7% of penalties. It will take a team effort like the one Montreal got back to on Saturday night to break down the Mammoth defence and maintain the offence that has steadily risen over the last four games.

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Scratched: Arber Xhekaj
Injured: Kirby Dach, Kaiden Guhle, Patrik Laine, Alex Newhook

Utah Mammoth projected lineup