Overview
- Montreal enters at 37-20-10 with 84 points to Detroit's 37-23-8 and 82 points, setting up a swing game in the standings.
- Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes gets the start for Montreal after a strong outing against Boston and could tie Patrick Roy's rookie win mark with a victory.
- Cole Caufield comes in off his 40th goal as the overtime winner versus the Bruins, becoming the Canadiens' first 40-goal scorer since 1993-94.
- Detroit remains without captain Dylan Larkin, whose absence has depressed scoring and cut the power play rate well below its season pace.
- Puck drop is 7:00 p.m. EDT with regional TV on TSN2 and RDS, and the season series stands 1-1 with both prior games decided by four goals.