As the NHL season heats up, the Pittsburgh Penguins (1-2-0, 2 points) are set to clash with the Montreal Canadiens (2-1-0, 4 points) in a highly anticipated matchup tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET. Hockey fans can catch the live action on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and streaming via ESPN+.

Penguins' Journey Forward:

The Penguins are gearing up for their home stretch, with upcoming games against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday and the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday. Following that, they will embark on a challenging four-game western road trip, making stops in Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver.

Canadiens' Current Form:

Montreal kicked off their season strong, winning two out of their first three games against division rivals, showcasing their resilience with victories over the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators, although they faced a setback against the Boston Bruins.

Future Encounters:

This is just the first of several matchups between the two teams, with the Canadiens slated to visit Pittsburgh on November 2 and Pittsburgh making another trip to Montreal on December 12.

Key Player to Watch:

A hidden gem in this game is goaltender Tristan Jarry, who boasts an impressive record of 6-1-1 along with a 2.50 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage in nine career games against the Canadiens.

Getting Acquainted with the Canadiens:

Here are the projected lines for the Canadiens:

FORWARDS:

- Cole Caufield - Nick Suzuki - Juraj Slafkovsky - Alex Newhook - Kirby Dach - Joel Armia - Josh Anderson - Jake Evans - Brendan Gallagher - Emil Heineman - Christian Dvorak - Oliver Kapanen

DEFENSEMEN:

- Mike Matheson / Kaiden Guhle - Cole Hutson / David Savard - Arber Xhekaj / Justin Barron

Goalies:

Samuel Montembeault or Cayden Primeau.

Injury Report:

The Canadiens will be without Patrik Laine and Rafael Harvey-Pinard due to injuries.

Player Spotlight:

Keep an eye on Cole Caufield, who has shown tremendous growth in his scoring every season, currently on track to surpass his previous season's tally of 28 goals. Also, 20-year-old Lane Hutson is quickly becoming a fan favorite, breaking through as one of the NHL's exciting young talents despite his smaller stature.

Penguins Lineup Insights:

Here's a look at the projected lines for the Pittsburgh Penguins:

FORWARDS:

- Anthony Beauvillier - Sidney Crosby - Bryan Rust - Michael Bunting - Evgeni Malkin - Rickard Rakell - Drew O'Connor - Lars Eller - Rutger McGroarty - Kevin Hayes - Cody Glass - Noel Acciari

DEFENSEMEN:

- Matt Grzelcyk / Kris Letang - Marcus Pettersson / Erik Karlsson - Ryan Graves / Jack St. Ivany

Goalies:

Tristan Jarry or Joel Blomqvist.

Injury Update:

The Penguins will miss Matt Nieto (knee surgery), Alex Nedeljkovic, Blake Lizotte, and Vasily Ponomarev due to injuries. However, the return of Bryan Rust bolsters their lineup, now pushing Jesse Puljujarvi out of the game.

Milestone Watch:

Evgeni Malkin is on a fast track this season, with Sidney Crosby just one point away from hitting the 1,600-point milestone in his illustrious career!

Final Thoughts:

The Penguins have had their ups and downs this season, but with key players returning and the opportunity to gain momentum tonight, this matchup against the Canadiens is crucial. Tune in for what promises to be an electrifying evening of hockey action!