The Lightning have struggled offensively, being shut out in their last two games.
Andrei Vasilevskiy is on injured reserve, likely leading to either Jonas Johansson or Brandon Halverson starting for Tampa Bay.
Jakub Dobes is expected to start his third consecutive game for the Canadiens, solidifying his position as the team's current preferred goalie.
Montreal needs more offensive contribution from their bottom-six forwards, as players like Jake Evans, Brendan Gallagher, Joe Veleno, and Josh Anderson have struggled to generate offense in December.
Tampa Bay's defense remains strong, ranking fifth-best in the NHL, which compensates for their offensive slump.
The Canadiens (15-10-3) face a Lightning (16-11-2) team dealing with inconsistent performance and key injuries. Tampa Bay, after a strong start, has faltered, while Montreal seeks more consistent scoring depth. Key stats to watch: Montreal's expected goal share (22nd) vs. Tampa Bay's (3rd), and Tampa Bay's strong PK% (1st) vs Montreal's struggling PK% (25th).
Projected Lineups:
Canadiens:
Cole Caufield -- Nick Suzuki -- Juraj Slafkovsky
Alexandre Texier -- Oliver Kapanen -- Ivan Demidov
Josh Anderson -- Jake Evans -- Brendan Gallagher
Jared Davidson -- Joe Veleno -- Zachary Bolduc
Mike Matheson -- Noah Dobson
Jayden Struble -- Lane Hutson
Arber Xhekaj -- Alexandre Carrier
Jakub Dobes
Lightning:
Brandon Hagel -- Anthony Cirelli -- Nikita Kucherov
Jake Guentzel -- Brayden Point -- Nick Paul
Zemgus Girgensons -- Yanni Gourde -- Pontus Holmberg
Gage Goncalves -- Jack Finley -- Oliver Bjorkstrand
Victor Hedman -- Max Crozier
J.J. Moser -- Darren Raddysh
Charle-Edouard D’Astous -- Emil Lilleberg
Brandon Halverson
Q: Who is likely to start in goal for the Lightning?
With Andrei Vasilevskiy on injured reserve, either Jonas Johansson or Brandon Halverson is expected to start.
Q: Which Canadiens players need to improve their offensive output?
Jake Evans, Brendan Gallagher, Joe Veleno, and Josh Anderson need to contribute more offensively.
The Lightning's offensive struggles and goalie situation make them vulnerable.
The Canadiens need improved scoring depth to support their top players.
Pay attention to the goaltending matchup, as Jakub Dobes looks to solidify his role for Montreal.
Do you think the Canadiens can capitalize on the Lightning's struggles? Share your predictions below!
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