Game 54 Preview: Montreal Canadiens @ Winnipeg Jets

The Montreal Canadiens (13-33-7, 33 pts) will try to extend their win streak to six games when they lock horns with the Winnipeg Jets  (23-21-9, 55 pts) for the first time since sweeping Winnipeg in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs this Tuesday night (8:00 PM ET, RDS, TSN2, TSN3).

The Canadiens and the Jets got very familiar with each other last season, as the former North Division teams faced each other a total of 12 times in 2021. The emotions ran deep against Winnipeg, especially after Mark Scheifele’s vicious hit on Jake Evans in Game 1 of their series, and you can be sure that the Canadiens have not forgotten. For the Jets, retribution is their main goal tonight, as they look to avenge getting swept by the Canadiens, despite being heavy favourites going into the series.

Samuel Montembeault is slated to start for the Montreal Canadiens; looking to keep his streak of excellent play going. The young goaltender has won his last three straight starts for the Montreal Canadiens and has posted an impressive 1.32 GAA and .958 save percentage during this stretch. On top of the excellent play, Montembeault was able to secure his first career shutout in his last start, a 4-0 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

Connor Hellebuyck is slated to start for the Jets. He’s is 17-19-8 this season with a 2.88 GAA and a .912 save percentage.

Montreal Canadiens Notes

Cole Caufield has been the Canadiens’ best forward in February, posting six goals and four assists over his last eight games.

Artturi Lekhonen has increased his play as of late and was finally rewarded with a two-goal performance vs. Ottawa on Saturday night.

Winnipeg Jets Notes

Kyle Connor has been hot of late, posting five points in his last five games, will he continue his scoring ways against Montreal?

Neal Pionk has seen an uptick in offence lately, putting up four assists in his last five games for the Jets.

Montreal Canadiens Lines:

Forwards

Cole Caufield-Nick Suzuki-Josh Anderson

Mike Hoffman – Laurent Dauphin – Brendan Gallagher

Rem Pitlick – Jake Evans- Artturi Lehkonen

Joel Armia – Ryan Poehling – Mathieu Perreault

Defence:

Alexander Romanov – Ben Chiarot

Brett Kulak-Jeff Petry

Corey Schueneman-Chris Wideman

Goalies:

Sam Montembeault

Andrew Hammond

Winnipeg Jets Lines:

Forwards

Paul Stastny-Marck Scheifele-Blake Wheeler

Kyle Connor- Pierre-Luc Dubois- Evgeny Svechnikov

Jansen Harkins-Adam Lowry-Austin Poganski

Kristian Vesalainen-Dominic Toninato-Adam Brooks

Defence

Josh Morrissey-Dylan Demelo

Brendan Dillon-Neal Pionk

Nathan Beaulieu-Nate Schmidt

Goalies

Connor Hellebuyck

Eric Comrie