Canadiens Preview And Lines : Laine And Hutson Set To Play

The Montreal Canadiens will open their 2024-25 preseason by facing the Philadelphia Flyers at the Bell Centre. The puck drop is scheduled for 7 pm ET.

There’s no doubt the rebuild is far from over in Montreal, but there’s still a certain sense of anticipation from fans as to how the very young team will fare now that they’re a year older and year wiser. As per usual, the team’s top line of Juraj Slafkovsky, Nick Suzuki, and Cole Caufield is expected to generate the bulk of the scoring chances, but with Patrik Laine and Kirby Dach now in the mix, the hope is the team can finally ice a lineup with some semblance of balance in their top six.

The Habs confirmed Laine will be in the lineup on Monday, marking the first time he’ll play an organized game against an NHL opponent in a Canadiens uniform. He will play on the first line with Dach and winger Alex Newhook, giving him ample support when it comes to the line’s speed of execution and transition play.

#Habs Martin St-Louis says he's looking for the Laine-Dach-Newhook line to be hard to play against collectively.

— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) September 23, 2024

Among the young forwards, Jared Davidson, Emil Heineman, Luke Tuch and Oliver Kapanen will face the Flyers.

As for the rest of the lineup, it will be rich with some of the team’s top prospects, including defencemen Lane Hutson, Adam Engstrom, and Logan Mailloux. Veterans David Savard and Justin Barron will provide the experience,  though you’d be hard-pressed to call Barron a veteran. Such is life in the preseason.

On Topic: Canadiens Groups At Training Camp Give Insight To First Cuts

The Flyers are playing their second game in as many nights. Phialdephia dispatched the Washington Capitals with ease, putting together a 6-2 win thanks to strong efforts from top prospects such as Matvei Michkov, Bobby Brink, and Jett Luchanko.

Given they played last night,  Michkov and Co. will not be in the lineup on Monday, saving us from an endless stream of circular arguments debating the Flyers and Canadiens’ respective draft strategies.

With that in mind, the Flyers are still carrying a lineup with players such as Sean Couturier, former Laval Rocket forward Anthony Richard, and former Hab Nicolas Deslauriers.

For the most up-to-date information about tonight’s opponent, make sure to visit our sister site Philly Hockey Now.

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup Alex NewhookKirby DachPatrik Laine Joshua RoyChristian DvorakJosh Anderson
Alex Barre-BouletOliver KapanenEmil Heineman Jared DavidsonLucas CondottaLuke Tuch Lane HutsonDavid Savard Arber XhekajJustin Barron Adam EngstromLogan Mailloux Cayden Primeau Jakub Dobes

Philadelphia Flyers Projected Lineup

Foerster – Couturier – Richard

Lycksell – Poehling – Brink

Eklind – Laughton – Rizzo

Desnoyers – Gaucher – Deslauriers

Defence:

Zamula – Ristolainen

McDonald – Bonk

Belpedio – Attard

Goalies:

Bjarnason

Fedotov

How to Watch The Montreal Canadiens vs. The Philadelphia Flyers:

Game 1 of the preseason will be aired on RDS. Once the game is over, an instant recap complete with highlights will be available on Montreal Hockey Now.