The Montreal Canadiens visit the Nashville Predators with both teams set to ice lineups that reflect different stages of their season. Montreal arrives with a strong 40-21-10 record, while Nashville stands at 34-29-9 and will look to use home ice to slow down one of the league’s more balanced teams.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, with coverage listed on FDSNSO, SNE, CITY, and TVAS. The main focus before the game is the projected line combinations, expected goaltenders, and the latest roster notes that shape how each club may approach the matchup.
Canadiens lineup outlook
Montreal’s top line is expected to feature Cole Caufield with captain Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky, a group that has carried much of the offense. Behind them, the Canadiens project a deeper attack with Alex Newhook, Oliver Kapanen, and Ivan Demidov on the second line, giving the team a blend of speed, skill, and youth.
3
- Cole Caufield — Nick Suzuki — Juraj Slafkovsky
- Alex Newhook — Oliver Kapanen — Ivan Demidov
- Zachary Bolduc — Jake Evans — Josh Anderson
- Joe Veleno — Phillip Danault — Brendan Gallagher
The blue line is expected to be anchored by Mike Matheson and Noah Dobson, while Lane Hutson and Jayden Struble form another mobile pair. Kaiden Guhle and Alexandre Carrier are projected to handle tougher defensive minutes, and Jakub Dobes is listed as the expected starter with Jacob Fowler backing him up.
Montreal also has several notable absences and scratches that affect the depth chart. Arber Xhekaj and Samuel Montembeault are scratched, while Kirby Dach remains out with an upper-body injury, Patrik Laine is sidelined by a lower-body injury, and Alexandre Texier is also dealing with a lower-body issue.
Predators lineup outlook
Nashville’s projected top unit includes Steven Stamkos, Ryan O’Reilly, and Luke Evangelista, a line that brings experience and playmaking. The Predators are also expected to lean on Filip Forsberg, Matthew Wood, and Jonathan Marchessault on the second line, giving the home team two scoring groups capable of changing the game quickly.
3
- Steven Stamkos — Ryan O’Reilly — Luke Evangelista
- Filip Forsberg — Matthew Wood — Jonathan Marchessault
- Zachary L’Heureux — Erik Haula — Tyson Jost
- Reid Schaefer — Fedor Svechkov — Ozzy Wiesblatt
On defense, Roman Josi remains the key name, paired with Brady Skjei on the top pair. Nicolas Hague and Nick Perbix are expected to log important minutes as well, while Adam Wilsby and Ryan Ufko round out the projected back end.
Juuse Saros is expected to start in goal after being the first goaltender off the ice at the morning skate, a strong sign he will get the nod. Justus Annunen is listed as the backup, and Nashville enters the game without any injured players, though Joakim Kemell and Justin Barron are scratched.
Key lineup notes to watch
| Team | Expected starter | Top line | Key absence note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadiens | Jakub Dobes | Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky | Montembeault scratched, Dach and Laine out |
| Predators | Juuse Saros | Stamkos-O’Reilly-Evangelista | No injured players listed |
Montreal’s structure suggests an attack built around pace and puck movement, with Suzuki’s line likely to drive possession and create chances off the rush. Nashville, meanwhile, has the advantage of a veteran center group and Saros in net, which could make the game tight if the Predators defend well at five-on-five.
Texier remains day to day for Montreal, which adds another layer of uncertainty to the visiting lineup. With both teams near full strength in different ways, the final details from warmups will matter, but the projected lineups already point to a matchup shaped by top-end talent, structured defense, and strong goaltending.
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