Canadiens @ Capitals: Game thread and lines

Game 47: Montreal Canadiens @ Washington Capitals

Start time: 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST
In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French)
In the Capitals region: MNMT
Streaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+

The Montreal Canadiens players probably felt like they forgot to pack something for this road trip, one comprising just three games, and that works them closer to home as it goes along. The biggest game on this brief journey will be a stop in Buffalo on Thursday that could ultimately have playoff implications, but before the Habs can think about the upcoming post-season, they’ll first visit the team they played in the last.

They have travelled to Washington, D.C. a day after a 6-3 win on home ice. The team is playing well, and that has been especially true on the road where they’ve earned a 13-4-5 record. They weren’t able to claim a win on the road in the playoff series, so this will be yet another chance for them to show they’ve improved from a year ago.

That task is made easier by several missing stars from the Capitals’ lineup. There is no Tom Wilson, nor will Jakob Chychrun, a defenceman with 15 goals already this season, be in the lineup tonight. As we often say, the Canadiens aren’t going to feel any sympathy for a club missing a few players, and they just showed a week ago when playing the decimated Florida Panthers that they’re not shy to capitalize on such a situation. They bring the better formation to this match, and it will be a matter of which club gets better goaltending and can execute its game plan to determine the winner.

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Scratched: Jacob Fowler, Jayden Struble
Injured: Josh Anderson, Kirby Dach, Jake Evans, Patrik Laine, Alex Newhook

Washington Capitals projected lineup