The Montreal Canadiens (30-27-6) are set to face the Vancouver Canucks (29-23-11), with the puck drop set for 10 pm ET.
It’s going to be a late one, ladies in gentlemen.
Well, it’s going to be late for everyone based in Montreal, but we should probably do a better job acknowledging Canadiens fans around the world. For example, a 7 pm ET start in Montreal means a midnight puck drop in Paris. A 10 pm ET start means fans in Bratislava have to tune in at 3 am, local time.
In other words, we probably shouldn’t complain about late starts as much as we do, because they’re a mere drop in the inconvenience bucket compared to what other fans have to deal with on a weekly basis. I’m rather lucky, because my favourite sports club happens to be Arsenal, and most of their games take place at 3 pm local time, which means I only have to tune in at 11 am on Saturday mornings, but I digress.
Tuesday’s game will feature at least two lineup changes, with goaltender Samuel Montembeault taking over from rookie Jakub Dobes. That’s not to say Dobes played poorly against the Calgary Flames, he was excellent, but unfortunately, the goaltender did not manage to score for the Canadiens, which led to the frustrating 1-0 shutout loss.
The Habs struggled to beat standout rookie netminder Dustin Wolf on Saturday, despite controlling a reasonable number of quality chances at 5v5. Things will get somewhat easier on Tuesday, since they’re facing Kevin Lankinen, but the 29-year-old goalie is currently sporting a .905 save percentage, indicating that Martin St-Louis’ team will have to play inspired hockey in the offensive zone if they’re to beat the Canucks.
Seeing as the Canadiens’ hardly have any margin for error left if they hope to qualify for the playoffs, beating the Canucks is essentially a necessity. Every single loss will have a significant impact on the team’s chances to participate in springtime hockey,
ON TOPIC: Canadiens Playoff Hopes: Honest Analysis Of Montreal’s Chances
Other than Montembeault taking over from Dobes, the only expected lineup change will take place on the second line.
Owen Beck’s presence on the second line improved their underlying numbers, which is rather impressive when we consider both Patrik Laine and Alex Newhook struggle to generate half-decent stats at 5v5. However, Beck did not manage to light the line’s offensive spark. That’s not exactly surprising, as it will take more than just a hard-working rookie to improve the second line’s production, but if there’s one prospect that could bring more of an offensive charge to the lineup, it’s certainly Joshua Roy.
The 21-year-old forward was recalled on Monday, in a desperate attempt to add any semblance of offensive potential to the lineup. Roy had recently scored his 20th goal of the year for the Laval Rocket, the first to do so for the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate, which happens to be the top team in the league this season.
His presence won’t help the team when it comes to their 5v5 play, but right now, the team needs goals, plain and simple. That’s where Roy shines.
It’s also an opportunity for Roy to prove the Canadiens made the wrong decision by keeping him in the AHL most of the season. While I remain adamant he has more offensive talent than most, and should be included in the team’s long-term plans due to the lack of elite offensive players in Montreal, I also have to be realistic about the perception of his value to Canadiens management.
They question his consistency, and his ability to remain focused over long periods of time. I think the issues are overblown, and we’re nearing a situation in which we’ve turned a molehill into a mountain, but there’s no avoiding Roy will have to play well and offer an honest effort every single time he hits the ice, or his time with the Canadiens will be cut short.
Patrik Laine is still listed as day-t0-day (flu), which means Michael Pezzetta will once again fill the gap in the lineup. Whether we can accurately describe the Roy, Newhook, and Pezzetta combination as the second line is another matter, especially since St-Louis does limit their 5v5 usage.
Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup
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Vancouver Canucks Projected Lineup
O’Connor – Pettersson – Boeser
DeBrusk – Chytil – Lekkerimaki
Joshua – Blueger – Garland
Hoglander – Suter – Sherwood
Pettersson – Hronek
Pettersson – Myers
Forbort – Mancini
Lankinen
How to Watch the Montreal Canadiens vs. the Vancouver Canucks, Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
Game 64 of the regular season will be aired on RDS, TSN 2, Sportsnet Pacific. Once the game is over, an instant recap complete with highlights will be available on Montreal Hockey Now.
