Montreal Canadiens: Several Lineup Changes Before Tonight’s Rematch

Montreal Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme was tight lipped at his pre-game press conference earlier today.

Usually he explains his lineup changes ahead of time and shares quite a bit of information with the media in preparation of a game.

That wasn’t the case today. So, we had to wait to see what, if any, lineup changes would be made after a lacklustre effort on Friday night. As it turns out, there will be several changes to the Canadiens lineup.

Jonathan Drouin remains out with a non-covid related virus for the second consecutive game. Surprisingly, Paul Byron will also not be in the lineup as he is battling a lower body injury and is now day to day. That puts the Habs down a couple of left wingers in a pretty crucial matchup against the Calgary Flames.

With Byron coming out of the lineup, it will be Jake Evans taking his spot. This means the Canadiens will be going with just 11 forwards for the second straight night.

On defence, the Habs will go with the same seven who played last night, meaning Brett Kulak will sit as a healthy scratch once again.

In net, Cayden Primeau will be making his season debut. He has been great for the Laval Rocket this season and has earned a look at the NHL level. Carey Price is out with a concussion and Jake Allen can’t play every night so Primeau gets a well earned look in the Habs net.

It will be interesting to see how the seven defenders spread out the ice time on the second night of a back to back. Hopefully Shea Weber doesn’t have to lead the team with 23 minutes and he gets a lighter load but we will have to wait and see.

The puck will drop shortly after 7:00 PM EST at the Saddledome in Calgary.