Canadiens lineup tonight: Montreal's projected lineup for game against the Buffalo Sabres | Dec. 17, 2024

Tonight, the Montreal Canadiens will look to snap a two-game skid that saw them fall to the Penguins 9-2 on Thursday and 4-2 to the Jets on Saturday. Ahead of the game, the team is sitting in last place in a competitive Atlantic Division with a record of 11-16-3 that's seen it go 4-5-1 over its last 10.

The Canadiens will face off against a Buffalo Sabres team that is sitting just one point ahead of them in the divisional standings with a record of 11-16-4. Buffalo has lost 10 straight heading into tonight's game.

As the Habs look to get back on track, they will be without Rafael Harvey-Pinard, who is on the injured reserve list, as well as David Reinbacher, who is still recovering from knee surgery.

Montreal Canadiens projected lines

Forwards:

1. LW Cole Caufield - C Nick Suzuki - RW Juraj Slafkovsky
2. LW Alex Newhook - C Kirby Dach - RW Patrik Laine
3. LW Josh Anderson - C Christian Dvorak - RW Brendan Gallagher
4. LW Emil Heineman - C Jake Evans - RW Joel Armia

Defense:

1. Lane Hutson - Mike Matheson
2. Kaiden Guhle - Jayden Struble
3. David Savard - Arber - Xhekaj

Goalies:

• Sam Montembeault
• Cayden Primeau

Powerplay:

1. Patrik Laine, Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson
2. Brendan Gallagher, Kirby Dach, Emil Heineman, Alex Newhook, Mike Matheson

Penalty Kill:

1. Jake Evans, Joel Armia, Kaiden Guhle, Justin Barron
2. Christian Dvorak, Josh Anderson, Arber Xhekaj, David Savard

Looking at the odds for tonight's Canadiens vs Sabres game, as well as upcoming games on the Habs schedule

Heading into tonight's game between the Habs and the Sabres, the Canadiens are sitting as slight betting underdogs despite the fact that the Sabres have lost 10 in a row.

On FanDuel, the Sabres are -120 favorites, while the Habs are +100 underdogs. Meanwhile on DraftKings, the Sabres are sitting as -135 favorites, while the Canadiens are +114 underdogs.

This means, on DraftKings, it would take a $135 bet on the Sabres to win $100, while a $100 bet on the Habs would win $114 assuming betting lines remain consistent between now and the start of the game.

Following tonight's game, the Habs will play the Red Wings in a back-to-back on Friday and Saturday, facing off in Detroit on Friday before then playing at home again on Saturday.

The team will then hit the road for a six-game road stretch that will kick off with a game against the Blue Jackets on Monday.