Flames vs. Canadiens: Who's Taking the Ice? Projected Starting Lineups
The Calgary Flames are set to face off against the Montreal Canadiens, and both teams are looking to make a statement. But before the puck drops, let's take a look at the projected starting lineups for each team.
Calgary Flames:
The Flames have a lot of firepower up front, and their offense will be looking to light up the scoreboard. Here's how they're expected to roll out:
Forwards:
- Line 1: Johnny Gaudreau - Elias Lindholm - Matthew Tkachuk
- Line 2: Andrew Mangiapane - Sean Monahan - Blake Coleman
- Line 3: Dillon Dube - Mikael Backlund - Tyler Toffoli
- Line 4: Trevor Lewis - Milan Lucic - Adam Ruzicka
Defense:
- Pair 1: Noah Hanifin - Rasmus Andersson
- Pair 2: Chris Tanev - MacKenzie Weegar
- Pair 3: Oliver Kylington - Nikita Zadorov
Goalie:
- Starter: Jacob Markstrom
Montreal Canadiens:
The Canadiens are rebuilding, but they still have some talented players who can make things difficult for their opponents. Their lineup is expected to look like this:
Forwards:
- Line 1: Nick Suzuki - Cole Caufield - Brendan Gallagher
- Line 2: Kirby Dach - Christian Dvorak - Josh Anderson
- Line 3: Juraj Slafkovsky - Sean Monahan - Michael Pezzetta
- Line 4: Rem Pitlick - Jake Evans - Evgenii Dadonov
Defense:
- Pair 1: David Savard - Kaiden Guhle
- Pair 2: Joel Edmundson - Jordan Harris
- Pair 3: Justin Barron - Arber Xhekaj
Goalie:
- Starter: Samuel Montembeault
Key Matchups:
- Johnny Gaudreau vs. Nick Suzuki: Both players are dynamic playmakers who can create offense at will. This will be a battle of the best offensive forces on both teams.
- Matthew Tkachuk vs. Cole Caufield: These two forwards are known for their tenacity and scoring ability. This matchup will be a physical battle.
- Elias Lindholm vs. Kirby Dach: Lindholm is a two-way force with a lot of offensive upside, while Dach is a young center with a lot of potential. This will be a good test for both players.
Prediction:
The Flames have a lot more offensive firepower than the Canadiens, and they're expected to win this game. However, the Canadiens are a tough team to play against, and they could pull off an upset if they can keep the game close and capitalize on any mistakes by the Flames.
No matter what happens, this game is sure to be exciting. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the action!