NHL

Columbus Blue Jackets vs Montreal Canadiens prediction

Columbus Blue Jackets3–5–0 · Home Montreal Canadiens5–3–2 · Away01:00 PMDec 12

Lines

Lines from the last game · may change

Columbus Blue Jackets

Last game: Oct 20

1st line

8:21 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
89	Matthew Knies LW	18:36	2	2	4
19	Adam Fantilli C	21:21	2	1	3
91	Kent Johnson RW	17:09	4	1	5

12 points this season

4SillingerLW

3CoyleC

24OlivierRW

2nd line

9:19 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
4	Cole Sillinger LW	13:29	3	2	5
3	Charlie Coyle C	23:02	1	6	7
24	Mathieu Olivier RW	16:13	2	0	2

14 points this season

10VoronkovLW

23MonahanC

43NichushkinRW

3rd line

6:57 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
10	Dmitri Voronkov LW	10:02	0	2	2
23	Sean Monahan C	13:13	1	2	3
43	Valeri Nichushkin RW	12:27	1	3	4

9 points this season

94LombergLW LB93BelluzC

83GarlandRW

4th line

8:12 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI
94	Ryan Lomberg LW	11:10
93	Luca Del Bel Belluz C	11:54
83	Conor Garland RW	12:15

0 points this season

8WerenskiD DM5MateychukD

1st pair

3:28 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
8	Zach Werenski D	27:11	0	6	6
5	Denton Mateychuk D	20:25	1	1	2

8 points this season

78SeversonD

2ChristiansenD

2nd pair

5:39 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
78	Damon Severson D	21:50	1	4	5
2	Jake Christiansen D	16:05	1	0	1

6 points this season

44GudbransonD EA36AndraeD

3rd pair

4:51 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
44	Erik Gudbranson D	14:20	0	1	1
36	Emil Andrae D	10:22	0	2	2

3 points this season

Power play unit 1

7:37 together on the power play

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
3	Charlie Coyle F	23:02	1	6	7
19	Adam Fantilli F	21:21	2	1	3
89	Matthew Knies F	18:36	2	2	4
91	Kent Johnson F	17:09	4	1	5
8	Zach Werenski D	27:11	0	6	6

25 points this season

23MonahanF

43NichushkinF

83GarlandF

10VoronkovF DM5MateychukD

Power play unit 2

0:35 together on the power play

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
23	Sean Monahan F	13:13	1	2	3
43	Valeri Nichushkin F	12:27	1	3	4
83	Conor Garland F	12:15	0	0	0
10	Dmitri Voronkov F	10:02	0	2	2
5	Denton Mateychuk D	20:25	1	1	2

11 points this season

Penalty kill unit 1

1:52 together on the penalty kill

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
3	Charlie Coyle F	23:02	1	6	7
24	Mathieu Olivier F	16:13	2	0	2
8	Zach Werenski D	27:11	0	6	6
78	Damon Severson D	21:50	1	4	5

20 points this season

Penalty kill unit 2

0:45 together on the penalty kill

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
19	Adam Fantilli F	21:21	2	1	3
23	Sean Monahan F	13:13	1	2	3
5	Denton Mateychuk D	20:25	1	1	2
2	Jake Christiansen D	16:05	1	0	1

9 points this season

Goalies: Jet Greaves #73 (Projected) · Cam Talbot #33 (Backup)

Montreal Canadiens

Last game: Oct 23

1st line

8:25 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
20	Juraj Slafkovský LW	13:45	2	5	7
91	Oliver Kapanen C	13:26	0	0	0
13	Cole Caufield RW	14:36	6	2	8

15 points this season

85TexierLW

24DanaultC

76BolducRW

2nd line

7:55 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
85	Alexandre Texier LW	11:50	1	2	3
24	Phillip Danault C	15:49	0	3	3
76	Zachary Bolduc RW	11:52	4	2	6

12 points this season

22KreiderLW

15NewhookC

17AndersonRW

3rd line

5:06 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
22	Chris Kreider LW	10:05	1	3	4
15	Alex Newhook C	11:46	1	3	4
17	Josh Anderson RW	10:32	4	2	6

14 points this season

77DachLW

71EvansC

62BeckRW

4th line

5:38 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
77	Kirby Dach LW	9:13	0	2	2
71	Jake Evans C	13:24	2	1	3
62	Owen Beck RW	8:48	0	1	1

6 points this season

45CarrierD

21GuhleD

1st pair

9:58 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
45	Alexandre Carrier D	19:20	1	4	5
21	Kaiden Guhle D	18:35	1	3	4

9 points this season

48HutsonD

8MathesonD

2nd pair

9:17 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
48	Lane Hutson D	18:44	2	7	9
8	Mike Matheson D	17:48	1	1	2

11 points this season

53DobsonD

72XhekajD

3rd pair

5:49 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
53	Noah Dobson D	15:56	0	2	2
72	Arber Xhekaj D	10:00	0	0	0

2 points this season

Power play unit 1

2:38 together on the power play

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
13	Cole Caufield F	14:36	6	2	8
20	Juraj Slafkovský F	13:45	2	5	7
91	Oliver Kapanen F	13:26	0	0	0
48	Lane Hutson D	18:44	2	7	9
53	Noah Dobson D	15:56	0	2	2

26 points this season

Power play unit 2

1:07 together on the power play

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
76	Zachary Bolduc F	11:52	4	2	6
85	Alexandre Texier F	11:50	1	2	3
15	Alex Newhook F	11:46	1	3	4
22	Chris Kreider F	10:05	1	3	4
8	Mike Matheson D	17:48	1	1	2

19 points this season

Penalty kill unit 1

3:12 together on the penalty kill

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
24	Phillip Danault F	15:49	0	3	3
71	Jake Evans F	13:24	2	1	3
45	Alexandre Carrier D	19:20	1	4	5
8	Mike Matheson D	17:48	1	1	2

13 points this season

Penalty kill unit 2

1:26 together on the penalty kill

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
15	Alex Newhook F	11:46	1	3	4
17	Josh Anderson F	10:32	4	2	6
21	Kaiden Guhle D	18:35	1	3	4
53	Noah Dobson D	15:56	0	2	2

16 points this season

Goalies: Jacob Fowler #32 (Projected) · Jakub Dobes #75 (Backup)

Swipe the rink to switch units

How we read the lines

From the NHL’s shift charts, the three forwards and the two defencemen who shared the most 5-on-5 ice time, ranked by time on ice. Coaches shuffle lines often, so treat them as a guide until puck drop. Power-play and penalty-kill units: the five (on the power play) or four (on the penalty kill) skaters who were on the ice together the longest in that situation. TOI: ice time in that game. G, A, P: goals, assists and points this season.

Photo credits (35)

Matthew Knies · Jenn G from Seattle, WA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Adam Fantilli · Jenn G., CC BY-SA 2.5
Kent Johnson · Jenn G from Seattle, WA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cole Sillinger · Jenn G from Seattle, WA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Charlie Coyle · Resolute, CC BY-SA 3.0
Mathieu Olivier · Sandro Halank, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Dmitri Voronkov · Jenn G from Seattle, WA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Sean Monahan · Resolute, CC BY-SA 3.0
Valeri Nichushkin · Lisa Gansky from New York, NY, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Ryan Lomberg · TheAHL, CC BY 2.0
Conor Garland · Sandro Halank , Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Zach Werenski · Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0
Damon Severson · Lisa Gansky from New York, NY, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Jake Christiansen · Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0
Erik Gudbranson · Pens Through My Lens, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cam Talbot · Lisa Gansky from New York, NY, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Juraj Slafkovský · Jenn G from Seattle, WA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Oliver Kapanen · Kaiser matias, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cole Caufield · All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0
Alexandre Texier · Jenn G from Seattle, WA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Phillip Danault · Hockeybroad, CC BY-SA 3.0
Zachary Bolduc · Shayypy, CC BY 4.0
Chris Kreider · Lisa Gansky from New York, NY, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Alex Newhook · Maniacduhockey, CC0
Josh Anderson · TheAHL, CC BY 2.0
Kirby Dach · CloutsnChara Sports Cards, CC BY 3.0
Jake Evans · All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Owen Beck · Maniacduhockey, CC0
Alexandre Carrier · TheAHL, CC BY 2.0
Kaiden Guhle · Kaiser matias, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lane Hutson · Sandro Halank , Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Mike Matheson · Jenn G, CC BY-SA 2.0
Noah Dobson · CloutsnChara Sports Cards, CC BY 3.0
Arber Xhekaj · Gatarys, CC0
Jakub Dobes · Jenn G, CC BY-SA 2.0

Goalie duel

Projected

Projected from recent starts · confirmed at puck drop

Jet Greaves COL

.883 save percentage

3.34 GAA · 2–3–0 · 1 shutout · 5 starts

Jacob Fowler MON

.910 save percentage

1.94 GAA · 4–1–0 · 1 shutout · 5 starts

Teams do not name their goalie before the game. We expect the No. 1 unless his team played the night before, when the back-up usually starts; last season that call was right about two times in three. Our win chances do not depend on it.