CH vs. Lightning: Here’s what the lineup is expected to look like for Game 1

Marc-Olivier Cook
CH vs. Lightning: Here’s what the lineup is expected to look like for Game 1
Credit: Capture d'écran/Twitter

Alright! Are you finally ready for the Canadiens' first playoff game this year?

I know, it's been a long wait… but tonight, we'll finally get to see Game 1 between the Habs and the Lightning.

And we have an idea of what the Habs' lineup will look like for the game.

This morning, a few Canadiens players took to the ice in Tampa Bay. We're talking about Brendan Gallagher, Joe Veleno, Adam Engström, David Reinbacher, Samuel Montembeault, and Jacob Fowler.

Barring a surprise, then, it makes sense to assume these guys won't be in uniform tonight.

What can we expect from the Canadiens' lineup?

This week, in practice, the lines looked like this:

  • Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky
  • Texier-Newhook-Demidov
  • Anderson-Danault-Evans
  • Bolduc-Kapanen-Dach

Judging by the lineups that skated this morning, I'm inclined to believe these are the lines that will be used tonight—at least to start the game…

On defense, we're likely to see this:

  • Matheson – Carrier
  • Hutson – Guhle
  • Struble – Xhekaj

Not surprisingly, the Canadiens will rely on Jakub Dobes, and that makes sense because he deserves to play. After all, he's the one who has won the majority of the team's games this season among the goalies…

It's worth noting that some Lightning players also skated this morning… including the team's captain, Victor Hedman.

We're not quite sure what's going on with him, and we don't know when he'll be able to return to action.

But seeing him on the ice must be encouraging in a way for Tampa Bay fans: 

Preparations are finally complete, and now it's time to get down to business.

Things are likely to get heated on the ice tonight because we know just how much animosity there is between the two teams. We should be in for a good show… and there's going to be a lot of red in the stands at the Benchmark International Arena, according to what's circulating right now.

The Canadiens should be well represented in Tampa Bay… hehe. 


In a nutshell

– That's for sure.

– Reminder: The game is at 5:45 p.m. tonight.

– Yes.

– Good question.

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