The Montreal Canadiens will be without Phillip Danault and Rinat Valiev again as they have the Columbus Blue Jackets to fend off.
This will be the third and final time the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets meet up for a game. Each team has a win in the series as the Blue Jackets took the first decision in overtime while the Habs put up a good effort their second game-winning 3-1. Similarly to most of their games post-Trade Deadline, their opponent has a lot more to play for.
The Blue Jackets are in a tight battle with the Florida Panthers for the final wild-card spot in the east. Considering how hot the Panthers have been (8-1-1 in their last 10) Columbus is well in need of the points. The Habs, on the other hand, are continuing to trudge along to the end of the season that has been filled with frustration and a whole heap of injuries.
Claude Julien let reporters know after the team’s morning skate that both Rinat Valiev and Phillip Danault will be out of the lineup. It hasn’t been necessarily another concussion that has kept Danult off the ice, but headaches due to tightness in his neck have been the culprit. There’s also a chance that Andrew Shaw may sit out of this game as he missed morning skate. It was an optional one for the team, but Julien said he hopes he’ll be ready for the night.
«On a encore des décisions à prendre et on espère que Shawzy (Andrew Shaw) soit prêt pour ce soir» - Claude Julien
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) March 12, 2018
"We still have decisions to make, and we're hoping that Andrew Shaw will be ready for tonight." -Claude Julien#GoHabsGo
The top two lines will most likely remain the same for the Habs, but how the bottom six shapes out will depend on A. Shaw’s availability. Logan Shaw will most likely draw into the lineup in place of Danault, possibly bumping Byron Froese up to the third line. If A. Shaw is forced to sit out as well, then Nikita Scherbak could return after being made a healthy scratch against Tampa Bay.
More from Habs News
- Montreal Canadiens: Biggest Questions Going Into 2023-24
- Montreal Canadiens: Quentin Miller’s Poise And Confidence Fuel His Game
- Montreal Canadiens: Laval Rocket Top Defence Pair Could Be Set
- Montreal Canadiens: Worst Move Of The Pierre Gauthier Era
- Montreal Canadiens: Could Casey DeSmith End Up In Colorado?
Montreal’s defence is especially going to be put to the test against a hard forechecking team like Columbus. Mike Reilly is keeping up with his offensive contributions on the blue line with five assists in his six games with the Habs. Additionally, Brett Lernout had a steady performance Saturday afternoon playing close to 16 minutes. It was a quiet game for the 22-year-old which is a lot better than making himself stand out negatively.
Columbus has been playing very well as they’re running on a four-game winning streak. They’ve managed to get some timely goals from star defenceman Seth Jones and deadline acquisition Thomas Vanek who scored twice against the Colorado Avalanche.
It’ll take toughness and energy to compete with this Blue Jackets team. Perhaps a birthday boost from Froese could help do the trick.
What are your expectations for the game? Will the Blue Jackets make it five in a row against the Habs? Can Reilly continue his offensive surge on the top pair? Let us know in the comments below.