Red Wings vs. Canadiens: Notes, Lines, Goalies, How to Watch

Tonight begins a crucial weekend for the Detroit Red Wings.

Then again,  as the season nears the halfway point, every game is crucial when it comes to the playoffs.

That’s how it works when a team starts as slowly as the Red Wings have this season

The Red Wings are home tonight against Montreal in the first of a home-and-home series; the second game is Saturday night in Montreal.

A win tonight could move the Wings up at least two  and as many as three spots in a crowded Eastern Conference, ahead of both New York teams and Columbus.

All three of those teams lead Detroit by a point in the East. Only Columbus plays tonight.

Montreal is also looking to stay out of the Eastern basement, starting with yesterday’s trade of defensemen with Nashville.

The Wings will be at full strength in net. Cam Talbot will be activated tonight after Ville Husso was sent back to Grand Rapids.

So there’s plenty of reason to watch this weekend, and it could be more contentious than usual as the Red Wings fight to move up in the standings.

Perhaps literally.

The Matchups

Who: Red Wings at Canadiens

Where: Little Caesars Arena

When: 7 p.m.

TV/Radio: FanDuel/97.1 FM

Detroit Lines

Tarasenko-Larkin-Raymond

DeBrincat – Copp – Kane

Rasmussen – Compher – Motte

Veleno – Kasper – Fischer

Berggren (extra)

Defensive Pairings

Chiarot – Seider

Holl – Petry

Johansson – Gustafsson

Goalies

Talbot (not practicing but likely starting) – Lyon

Montreal Lines

Caufield – Suzuki – Slafkovsky

Newhook – Dach – Laine

Anderson – Dvorak – Gallagher

Heineman – Evans – Armia

Defensive Pairings

Hutson – Matheson

Guhle – Carrier

Xhekaj – Savard

Goalies

Montembeault – Primeau