Canadiens Game 35: Barron In Lineup, Gallagher Nears Return

The Montreal Canadiens (15-16-3) face the potent Tampa Bay Lightning (20-11-14) on Wednesday night at the Amelie Arena. The puck drop is scheduled for 7 PM ET.

The Canadiens are now facing the toughest part of their schedule and we’ve begun to see the growing pains of a young roster over the rigours of a full, 82-game season.

Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield have slowed down quite a bit, which is a big problem, as they accounted for over 40% of the team’s goals between October at December.

Despite a valiant effort by the Canadiens’ fourth line against the Dallas Stars, the Canadiens need more secondary scoring for their second and third lines if they’re going to have any success.

The fact that they came away from games against the Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche and Stars with three points out of six is pretty decent, but can mainly be attributed to out-of-this-world goaltending from both Samuel Montembeault and Jake Allen, who will start the game against Tampa Bay.

If the Canadiens are to have any chance of besting the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning, they’ll need all hands on deck; and, especially, everyone on the ice instead of the penalty box.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have a blistering 26.3% success rate on the power play, while the Canadiens are dropping significantly in the penalty kill department, sitting 20th with 77.2% efficacy.

Discipline and coordinated team defence will be in order for tonight’s game, but it’s about time for Suzuki and Caufield to get some scoring support for their teammates.

Fresh up a promotion to the NHL, defenceman Justin Barron will take Chris Wideman’s place on the blueline. Veteran winger Brendan Gallagher will not play, but was spotted in a regular jersey at the team’s practice on Wednesday morning.

Montreal Canadiens Injuries

• Mike Matheson (indefinitely)
• Sean Monahan (2 weeks)
• David Savard (day-to-day)
• Brendan Gallagher (2 weeks)
• Carey Price (LTIR)
• Paul Byron (LTIR)

Tampa Bay Lightning Injuries

• Rudolf Balcers (IR)

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup

Tampa Bay Lightning Projected Roster

Hagel – Point – Kucherov

Colton – Paul – Stamkos

Maroon – Cirelli – Killorn

Namestnikov – Bellemare – Perry

Defence:

Hedman – Bogosian

Sergachev – Perbix

Cole – Cernak

Goalies:

Vasilevski

Elliott

Special Teams

Game Notes:

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