At 7: 00 PM ET, canadiens vs red wings arrives with a familiar pregame ritual: a morning skate, quiet conversations near the boards, and coaches weighing what a single body check—or the absence of one—can change. In Detroit, the details of who is available, who is close, and who is still out have become as central to the night as the puck drop.
Canadiens Vs Red Wings: What are the projected lineups and who is out?
On the Montreal side, the projected forward groups begin with Cole Caufield — Nick Suzuki — Juraj Slafkovsky, followed by Alex Newhook — Oliver Kapanen — Ivan Demidov, then Alexandre Texier — Jake Evans — Zachary Bolduc, and Joe Veleno — Phillip Danault — Brendan Gallagher. Montreal’s scratched list includes Arber Xhekaj and Samuel Montembeault.
Montreal’s injury list includes Kirby Dach (upper body), Patrik Laine (lower body), and Josh Anderson (upper body). Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said Anderson, a forward, is day to day, and added that Laine is getting closer to a return but is not yet available; Laine has been out since Oct. 16.
Detroit’s projected forwards are listed as Alex DeBrincat — J. T. Compher — Patrick Kane, David Perron — Emmitt Finnie — Lucas Raymond, John Leonard — Marco Kasper — James van Riemsdyk, and Mason Appleton — Sheldon Dries — Dominik Shine. Detroit’s defense includes Albert Johansson — Jacob Bernard-Docker. The scratched list includes Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Travis Hamonic.
Detroit’s injuries include Dylan Larkin (lower body), Andrew Copp (lower body), Michael Rasmussen (undisclosed), and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (undisclosed). Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said Copp, a center who has missed three games, took part in the morning skate and will be a game-time decision. Larkin, a center who has missed five games, also participated in the skate but has not been cleared for contact.
What time is the game, and how can fans watch?
The start time is 7: 00 PM ET. In the Canadiens region, the game is on TSN2 (English) and RDS (French). In the Red Wings region, it is on FanDuel Sports Network Detroit. Streaming is listed as +, RDS, and TSN+. Radio is listed as 97. 1 FM.
Why does this matchup feel tense right now?
Beyond the usual rivalry energy, the tension is rooted in the standings and in how quickly a season’s narrative can turn. Detroit enters the night holding the second wildcard position in the Eastern Conference, sitting one point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets, described as the top team below the wildcard cut line. Montreal is listed as third place in the Atlantic Division.
Detroit’s recent stretch has been uneven: in the 10 games since the schedule pause in February for the Olympics, the Red Wings have a record of 4-4-2. A key pressure point has been production, especially in the context of injury. An injury to captain Dylan Larkin has been highlighted as a destabilizing factor, with Larkin expected to be out for at least another week after a cross-check in the ribs on March 4, followed by one more game before leaving the lineup.
The power-play impact is laid out in stark terms: operating at 22. 5% on the season when Larkin went down, it has been 15. 8% in his six-game absence. Detroit is described as tied for the lowest goal total in the league since he exited. The matchup dynamics also underline Montreal’s scoring edge in this pairing over time, with Montreal scoring at a rate of 3. 5 goals per game in this matchup over the past three years, while the most recent meeting is described as a 4-0 Detroit win featuring a shutout by John Gibson.
The teams have split two games this season: Detroit lost 5-1 on Opening Night in Detroit and then won 4-0 in Montreal on Jan. 10.
Individual form and milestone context add another layer. Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider has 10 points (2-8-10) in 11 games since Feb. 4 at Utah. Detroit’s power play is described as having slipped from fifth in the NHL to 14th at 21. 9%. On the scoring side, Patrick Kane is noted as having 364 career multi-point games and 10 multi-point performances this season. Alex DeBrincat is listed with 19 multipoint games this season.
As the night begins, the uncertainties are concrete: Copp is a game-time decision, Larkin has not been cleared for contact, and Montreal continues without Laine and Dach while Anderson remains day to day. In a game where the margins can be thin, canadiens vs red wings becomes less about hype and more about who can adapt when the lineup card refuses to cooperate.
