Sam Montembeault will make the start in goal for the Montreal Canadiens against the Minnesota Wild.
GAME DAY PREVIEW | Montreal Canadiens (14-13-4) vs Minnesota Wild (13-13-4)
GAME DAY: Montreal Canadiens vs Minnesota Wild.Game Preview
Roster News
Emil Heineman will make his NHL debut taking Michael Pezzetta's spot in the lineup.
Sam Montembeault (7-4-2 / 2.79 GAA / .911 SV%) is the confirmed starter for Montreal.
Last Game
Justin Barron scored a power play goal 1:09 into overtime to beat the Jets.
Last game: MTL 3 vs WPG 2 | F
Players to Watch
- Sean Monahan - Monahan is just two points away from hitting the 500 point milestone in his career.
- Jon Merrill - The Wild defenseman played 13 games for the Canadiens in 2020-21.
Matchup for Game 31, Away Game 14
Xcel Energy Center, Saint Paul, MN. | December 21, 8:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN
Pre-Game
Jake Evans on centering the second line.
- "I have more opportunities to touch the puck. Sometimes, on a fourth line, your ice time is reduced. Sometimes you see action almost just shorthanded. I always had confidence that I could be this type of player."
Projected Canadiens Lineup (subject to change)
Forwards
22 Cole Caufield - 14 Nick Suzuki - 20 Juraj Slafkovsky
91 Sean Monahan - 71 Jake Evans - 17 Josh Anderson
40 Joel Armia - 28 Christian Dvorak - 11 Brendan Gallagher
51 Emil Heineman - 13 Mitchell Stephens - 56 Jesse Ylonen
Defensemen
8 Mike Matheson - 58 David Savard
21 Kaiden Guhle - 52 Justin Barron
47 Jayden Struble - 26 Johnathan Kovacevic
Goaltenders
Starter: 35 Sam Montembeault (7-4-2 / 2.79 GAA / .911 SV%)
Alternate: 34 Jake Allen
Out of the lineup
Scratches: Gustav Lindstrom, Cayden Primeau, Michael Pezzetta
Injuries: Carey Price (knee), Chris Wideman (back), Kirby Dach (knee), Rafael Harvey-Pinard (lower body), Jordan Harris (lower body), Alex Newhook (lower body), Tanner Pearson (upper body)
The Canadiens have lost 131 man games to injury.
Visiting Bench
The Wild have an all-time record of 11-2-1 against Montreal at the Xcel Energy Center. Minnesota has won the last eight games at home versus the Canadiens.
Marcus Johansson has 22 points in 31 career games against Montreal.
Filip Gustavsson (8-8-2 / 2.90 GAA / .906 SV%) is the confirmed starter for the Wild.
Game Expectations
The Canadiens are seeking their third straight win on Thursday night. This is the final match between the two teams. Minnesota defeated the Habs 5-2 on October 17th in Montreal.
Be sure to bookmark THN.com/Montreal for year-round coverage of the Montreal Canadiens, Laval Rocket, and Habs prospects playing in leagues around the world.
Gretzky Signature Series.