The Montreal Canadiens meet the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, NC. for the first of three meetings this season.
GAME DAY PREVIEW | Montreal Canadiens (15-13-5) vs Carolina Hurricanes (18-13-4)
GAME DAY: Montreal Canadiens vs Carolina Hurricanes.Game Preview
Roster News
The Canadiens activated defenseman Jordan Harris off injured reserve and loaned forward Emil Heineman to the Laval Rocket.
Cole Caufield received treatment on Thursday morning and did not participate in the morning skate.
Cayden Primeau (4-3-0 / 3.20 GAA / .902 SV%) is the confirmed starter for Montreal.
Last Game
The Canadiens stepped up their game with a strong second period scoring five unanswered goals to end the road trip on a positive note.
Last game: MTL 5 vs CHI 2 | F
Players to Watch
- Cayden Primeau - Primeau will make his second straight start for the first time this season.
- Jordan Harris - Harris will return to the lineup after being sidelined since November 18th with a lower body injury.
Matchup for Game 34, Away Game 16
PNC Arena, Raleigh, NC. | December 28, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN, BSSO
Pre-Game
Brendan Gallagher
- "Our goal is to compete with anyone. We feel like if we consistently bring our best hockey we're be able to play with the best teams in this league. It's just a matter of doing it consistently and that's our goal."
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 - 54 Jordan Harris
Goaltenders
Starter: 30 Cayden Primeau (4-3-0 / 3.20 GAA / .902 SV%)
Alternate: 35 Sam Montembeault
Out of the lineup
Scratches: Gustav Lindstrom, Jake Allen, Johnathan Kovacevic
Injuries: Carey Price (knee), Chris Wideman (back), Kirby Dach (knee), Rafael Harvey-Pinard (lower body), Alex Newhook (lower body), Tanner Pearson (upper body)
Visiting Bench
The Hurricanes have a record of 14-1-1 in their last 16 games against the Canadiens.
Sebastian Aho has recorded nine goals, seven assists for 16 points in 17 career games against Montreal.
Antti Raanta (6-5-1 / 3.60 GAA / .854 SV%) is the possible starter for the Hurricanes.
Game Expectations
The Canadiens will play the first of four games on the road following the Christmas break. Montreal currently ranks 23rd in the NHL with 35 points and a 13.5 percent chance of making the playoffs (according to MoneyPuck .com).
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.