Canadiens lineup tonight: Montreal’s projected lineup for game against Columbus Blue Jackets | Dec. 23, 2024

The Montreal Canadiens will be back in action tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Neither team is off to a red-hot start this year, as Columbus enters with a 13-15-6 record, and Montreal is 14-16-3. Montreal is in sixth place in the Atlantic Division.

The Canadiens currently have no injuries to report. Rafael Harvey-Pinard and David Reinbacher had injuries but are not currently on the injury report, which is empty going into tonight's game. With that in mind, here's what their projected lines might be:

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 Pairings:

1. Lane Hutson - Mike Matheson
2. Kaiden Guhle - Alexandre Carrier
3. Arber Xhekaj - David Savard

Goaltenders:

• Cayden Primeau
• Sam Montembeault

Powerplay Units:

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

Penalty Kill Lines:

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

Montreal is on the road tonight after dominating the Detroit Red Wings at home last time out on Saturday.

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Odds for tonight's Canadiens game and a look at the upcoming schedule

The Montreal Canadiens are underdogs on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Here are the full game odds per FanDuel:

• The Blue Jackets are -132 to win on the moneyline.
• Montreal is +110 to win outright.
• The puck line is Blue Jackets -1.5, which is +180.
• Montreal +1.5 is -225 to cover.
• The over/under is set at 6.5 goals combined.
• The under is slightly favored at -112. The over is -108.

After tonight's contest with the Blue Jackets, Montreal does not play again until Saturday. On that day at 1 p.m. EST, it'll take on the defending Stanley Cup champions Florida Panthers.

Montreal is the underdog tonight (Imagn)

The Canadiens then have a back-to-back with the Tampa Bay Lightning the next day at 5 p.m. EST. They will close out their 2024 slate of games with a Dec. 31 contest with the Vegas Golden Knights at 3 p.m. EST.