NHL

Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning prediction

Montreal Canadiens5–3–2 · Home Tampa Bay Lightning7–3–0 · Away07:30 PMDec 2

Lines

Lines from the last game · may change

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)

Tampa Bay Lightning

Last game: Oct 23

88VasilevskiyProjected

21PointLW

59GuentzelC

93GoncalvesRW

1st line

7:52 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
21	Brayden Point LW	20:50	1	7	8
59	Jake Guentzel C	22:12	6	4	10
93	Gage Goncalves RW	17:59	0	1	1

19 points this season

38HagelLW

71CirelliC

86KucherovRW

2nd line

9:16 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
38	Brandon Hagel LW	20:33	7	6	13
71	Anthony Cirelli C	17:19	3	2	5
86	Nikita Kucherov RW	20:43	4	8	12

30 points this season

29HolmbergLW

28GirgensonsC

95MikheyevRW

3rd line

8:38 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
29	Pontus Holmberg LW	11:59	2	3	5
28	Zemgus Girgensons C	12:55	1	1	2
95	Ilya Mikheyev RW	13:52	2	2	4

11 points this season

4th line: No such unit in that game.

51D'AstousD MC24CrozierD

1st pair

10:45 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
51	Charle-Edouard D'Astous D	21:06	2	3	5
24	Max Crozier D	17:17	0	3	3

8 points this season

27McDonaghD

81ČernákD

2nd pair

9:44 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
27	Ryan McDonagh D	17:27	0	1	1
81	Erik Černák D	16:44	0	1	1

2 points this season

74CarlsonD

90MoserD

3rd pair

10:56 together at 5-on-5

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
74	John Carlson D	18:15	3	2	5
90	J.J. Moser D	15:15	0	0	0

5 points this season

Power play unit 1

4:41 together on the power play

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
59	Jake Guentzel F	22:12	6	4	10
21	Brayden Point F	20:50	1	7	8
86	Nikita Kucherov F	20:43	4	8	12
38	Brandon Hagel F	20:33	7	6	13
51	Charle-Edouard D'Astous D	21:06	2	3	5

48 points this season

Power play unit 2

1:09 together on the power play

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
93	Gage Goncalves F	17:59	0	1	1
71	Anthony Cirelli F	17:19	3	2	5
94	Conor Geekie F	12:35	1	0	1
17	Dominic James F	12:28	0	1	1
74	John Carlson D	18:15	3	2	5

13 points this season

Penalty kill unit 1

1:23 together on the penalty kill

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
95	Ilya Mikheyev F	13:52	2	2	4
28	Zemgus Girgensons F	12:55	1	1	2
27	Ryan McDonagh D	17:27	0	1	1
81	Erik Černák D	16:44	0	1	1

8 points this season

Penalty kill unit 2

0:39 together on the penalty kill

#	Player	TOI	G	A	P
38	Brandon Hagel F	20:33	7	6	13
71	Anthony Cirelli F	17:19	3	2	5
90	J.J. Moser D	15:15	0	0	0
77	Victor Hedman D	5:56	2	2	4

22 points this season

Goalies: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 (Projected) · Dennis Hildeby #35 (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 (37)

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
Brayden Point · 5of7, CC BY-SA 2.0
Jake Guentzel · Michael Miller, CC BY-SA 4.0
Gage Goncalves · TheAHL, CC BY 2.0
Brandon Hagel · Jenn G, CC BY-SA 4.0
Anthony Cirelli · Michael Miller, CC BY-SA 4.0
Nikita Kucherov · Resolute, CC BY-SA 3.0
Pontus Holmberg · Jenn G from Seattle, WA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Zemgus Girgensons · Michael Miller, CC BY-SA 3.0
Ilya Mikheyev · Jenn G from Seattle, WA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Charle-Edouard D'Astous · Atrox1912, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ryan McDonagh · Resolute, CC BY-SA 3.0
Erik Černák · Ailura, CC BY-SA 3.0 at
John Carlson · Michael Miller, CC BY-SA 3.0
J.J. Moser · Quintin Soloviev, CC BY-SA 4.0
Conor Geekie · Russ Alman, CC BY-SA 4.0
Victor Hedman · Lisa Gansky from New York, NY, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Andrei Vasilevskiy · Michael Miller, CC BY-SA 4.0
Dennis Hildeby · TheAHL, CC BY 2.0

Goalie duel

Projected

Projected from recent starts · confirmed at puck drop

Jacob Fowler MON

.910 save percentage

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

Andrei Vasilevskiy TAM

.884 save percentage

2.78 GAA · 5–3–0 · 8 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.

Photo credits (1)