As the Montreal Canadiens gear up to take on the Winnipeg Jets for their 30th game of the season, excitement is in the air! The match is set to begin at 7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST. Fans can tune in via CityTV, Sportsnet East/West (English), and TVA Sports (French), with streaming available on ESPN+ Sportsnet+.

One of the highlights of this game is the return of former Jet Patrik Laine, who is now playing with his third NHL team, the Canadiens. Since his debut five games ago, Laine has expressed that he is enjoying his time in Montreal. However, after a disappointing third period loss where they were outscored 6-0 in their last game, the Canadiens are eager to turn things around. The pressure is on as they face the Jets, who currently sit in the second place of the league standings.

Head Coach Martin St-Louis is looking to revitalize the team’s performance, making a strategic tweak to the lineup. Alex Newhook and Juraj Slafkovský have swapped places in the top six, reuniting a former successful top line. The change aims to capitalize on Newhook’s speed to help Kirby Dach find more offensive opportunities alongside stars Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.

In a notable development, defenseman David Savard, who missed the last game, remains a game-time decision, and his absence could be felt. In the net, it’s set to be a showdown between Samuel Montembeault and Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck, the latter expected to be a key player for Team USA in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off.

Projected Lineups

Montreal Canadiens:

Forwards:

- Cole Caufield - Nick Suzuki - Juraj Slafkovský

- Patrik Laine - Kirby Dach - Alex Newhook

- Josh Anderson - Christian Dvorak - Brendan Gallagher

- Emil Heineman - Jake Evans - Joel Armia