The Canadiens welcome the New York Islanders and former Montreal blueliner Alex Romanov to the Bell Centre.
GAME DAY PREVIEW | Montreal Canadiens (12-13-4) vs New York Islanders (14-7-8)
GAME DAY: Montreal Canadiens vs New York Islanders.Game Preview
Roster News
Head coach Martin St. Louis announced that the lineup will be the same as the squad that met the Pittsburgh Penguins on Wednesday. It means that Emil Heineman's NHL debut will not happen in 2023 at the Bell Centre.
Jordan Harris took part in the morning skate but is not yet ready to return.
Sam Montembeault (6-4-2 / 2.78 GAA / .911 SV%) is the confirmed starter for Montreal.
Last Game
The Canadiens gave up two-goal lead twice in this game and lost in a 12-round shootout.
Last game: MTL 3 vs PIT 4 | F/SO
Players to Watch
- Sam Montembeault - Montembeault is winless in his last two starts against the Kings and Penguins.
- Alexander Romanov - Romanov played for the Canadiens from 2020 to 2022.
Matchup for Game 30, Home Game 18
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC. | December 16, 7:00 PM ET | TV: SNE, CITY, TVAS, MSGSN2, ESPN
Pre-Game
Martin St. Louis on Emil Heineman not making his NHL debut tonight
- "I like our five-on-five play in the last few games. We're getting ready to leave for a long trip and I'm sure [Emil Heineman] will get his chance to make the lineup during this one."
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
55 Michael Pezzetta - 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 (6-4-1 / 2.78 GAA / .912 SV%)
Alternate: 34 Jake Allen
Out of the lineup
Scratches: Gustav Lindstrom, Emil Heineman, Cayden Primeau
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)
Visiting Bench
Mathew Barzal is riding a five game point streak for the Islanders.
Semyon Varlamov (6-3-1 / 2.60 GAA / .921 SV%) is the likely starter for the Islanders. Varlamov has won his last four starts.
Game Expectations
It's the last home game for the Canadiens in the calendar year. On Monday they begin a stretch of seven consecutive games on the road.
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