Canadiens Pre Game
Canadiens Preview And Lines: Montembeault Starts, Condotta
The Montreal Canadiens (4-7-1) are set to play the New Jersey Devils (8-5-2) on Thursday night, with the puck drop scheduled for 7 pm ET.
The Habs had a great effort come up just short Tuesday night versus the Calgary Flames. After conceding a late third-period goal to Flames’ sophomore Matthew Coronato, the Canadiens headed to extra time for only the second time this young season. And it was off the opening draw of overtime where Coronato wired a wrist shot past Montreal goaltender Samuel Montembeault to secure the win for the Flames.
Veterans Brendan Gallagher and Joel Armia scored for Montreal in the defeat, with the goals coming shorthanded and on the powerplay, respectively. Despite their disappointing record, the Habs special teams continue to do well this season.
It was of note, that prior to puck drop in their last game, Habs phenom Cole Caufield was awarded the Molson Cup for the month of October. He led the team (and tied for the league lead) with 10 goals in the month, a feat not accomplished by a Habs player since Brian Savage had 10 back in the 1999-2000 season. Savage, nicknamed Mr. October for his knack of finding the net… mostly in October
Montembeault, will be given the start for the Habs, however, the 28-year-old has not won a game since October 26.
The Canadiens also gave a promotion to the Laval Rocket’s captain, as Lucas Condotta was called up from the AHL to take the spot Oliver Kapanen was occupying in the lineup prior to the decision to send him back to Sweden.
On Topic: Canadiens Make Interesting Decision Regarding Kapanen, Roy
As for their opponents the Devils have been one of the hottest teams in the league to this point. They just concluded a Western Canada road trip where all three games ended via a shutout. The Devils were able to shutout the Vancouver Canucks (6-0) and Edmonton Oilers (3-0), but fell to the Flames 3-0.
Currently sitting atop of the Eastern Conference leaderboard in goals scored (53), they’re also only third in the entire league, behind only the Winnipeg Jets (62) and Vegas Golden Knights (58).
Devils captain Nico Hischier, who had a career-high 31 goals back in the 2022-23 season, has already scored 10 goals, whereas the rest of the lineup provides a balanced attack, with five players currently sitting at 10 points or more. In contrast, Montreal has only two players (Caufield and Nick Suzuki) with over 10 points on the season.
Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup
Caufield – Suzuki – Dach
Newhook – Evans – Slafkovsky
Gallagher – Dvorak – Anderson
Heineman – Condotta – Armia
Matheson – Guhle
Hutson – Savard
Xhekaj – Struble
Montembeault
New Jersey Devils Projected Lineup
Meier – Hischier – Mercer
Palat – J. Hughes – Bratt
Cotter – Haula – Noesen
MacDermid – Dowling – Tatar
Dillon – Hamilton
Siegenthaler – Kovacevic
L. Hughes – Pesce
Markstrom
How to Watch The Montreal Canadiens vs. the New Jersey Devils, Thursday, November 7, 2024.
Game 14 of the regular season will be aired on RDS, and TSN2. Once the game is over, an instant recap complete with highlights will be available on Montreal Hockey Now.
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Could be another ugly one again tonight…
Where is Suzuki? Something is up with the team. Too many key young players brooding.
I love the player but that Brendan Gallagher, one of the least talented skaters in the league, looks quicker than half the roster is not a good thing for the Habs.
They don’t believe and there is nothing worse. Management will have to step in and do something. This is not about coaching as the players are trying , though even that could be better. It’s really a lack of talent holding this team back. A major trade needed. Time’s up. It’s ugly.