Canadiens @ Avalanche: Game thread and lines

Game 71: Montreal Canadiens @ Colorado Avalanche

Start time: **9:00 PM EDT / 6:00 PM PDT**In the Canadiens region: TSN2 (English), RDS (French)In the Avalanche region: AltitudeStreaming: ESPN+, RDS, TSN+

The Canadiens have a chance to sweep the season series with the Colorado Avalanche, but the Avalanche at home aren’t the same as the squad you face on the road. On home ice at Ball arena, Colorado has put together a 28-6 record, the best of any team in the NHL. Already with the best goals-per-game mark overall at 3.76, they average nearly four-and-a-half in front of their own fans.

If Martin St-Louis was looking for a challenge for his young team in the final dozen chances to measure itself versus opposing clubs, he found it in his return behind the bench. You could argue this will be he toughest test the defence has faced yet, going up against Nathan MacKinnon and his 34-game home point streak.

Samuel Montembeault will face his third playoff team on this trip, and it’s his last chance to get a win. Even his very best may not be enough in this one, unless his teammates can have another uncharacteristic offensive explosion as they did in Seattle on Sunday.

Montreal Canadiens projected lineup

Injured: Kirby Dach, Christian Dvorak, Joshua Roy, Chris WidemanScratched: Johnny Kovacevic, Tanner Pearson

Colorado Avalanche projected lineup