Canadiens expected lineup for Thursday night preseason tilt with Maple Leafs

The Montreal Canadiens are going heavy on youth for Thursday night's game in Toronto against the Maple Leafs. It makes sense that Martin St. Louis won't be taking many of his veterans on the road, but that doesn't mean there aren't some intriguing roster selections for tonight's game.

Christian Dvorak being one of the only veterans making the trip to Toronto should tell us plenty about his place in the lineup. It's unlikely that St. Louis believes a possible line combination this season is Dvorak, Alex Newhook, and Emil Heineman. So, why is he taking Dvorak on this trip to play between these two players? It seems easy to evaluate a player's position on the roster when the two players chasing him are also in the lineup. This game against the Maple Leafs looks like an audition for the third-line center spot between Dvorak, Oliver Kapanen, and Owen Beck. If Kapanen and Beck star in this game and Dvorak struggles, it could be the beginning of the end for him.

The Lane Hutson show will also get its second act on the first pairing with Justin Barron. It could be a look at playing these two together, as it's a possible third-line pairing if they both make the team. Adam Engstrom and David Reinbacher are another two players to watch, especially with Engstrom playing the right side. If Engstrom proves he can play his off-side in the NHL, it could open some roster flexibility for the Canadiens.

The Canadiens picked a perfect time to roll out the last-minute auditions. The Maple Leafs are playing a lineup that could look much like their opening night roster against the Canadiens on October 9th. The only notable omission is Auston Matthews, who has been battling an upper-body injury through training camp.

The Canadiens and Leafs will play again on Saturday night in Montreal. There's a good chance that the script will flip and the Leafs will bring a youth-heavy lineup while the Canadiens will dress most of their veterans. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait for October 9th for the full show, but it's still Leafs vs. Habs and we'll be tuned in.