Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Game 8: Montreal Canadiens @ Calgary Flames
Start time: **8:30 PM EDT / 5:30 PM PDT**
In Canada: Sportsnet (English)
In the Canadiens region: RDS (French)
Streaming: ESPN+, Sportsnet+, RDS
Offence was difficult to come by last year for the Calgary Flames. They finished the season with 220 goals, ranking 29th in the NHL. In 2025-26, finding the net has been almost impossible for the club as it averages just 1.57 per contest, about a full goal less than the San Jose Sharks’ league-low production a season ago.
The top of the Flames’ scoring list features Nazem Kadri on four points. The Montreal Canadiens have 10 players with at least that many through seven games and five skaters with more. The Habs have a clear advantage in this game in terms of offence, and that edge extends onto the defensive side as well.
With the Canadiens still dealing with some injuries, they’ve turned to the Laval Rocket for some reinforcements. Marc Del Gaizo, who played 46 NHL games for the Nashville Predators last season and registered nine points, is with the team in case they need an extra body on defence. At forward, Joshua Roy is up with the team to take Owen Beck’s spot, and expected to make his season debut. Roy and Martin St-Louis will be hoping he can show that he can play the up-tempo style Montreal has been finding success with through seven games.
Montreal Canadiens projected lineup
Left Wing
Centre
Right Wing
#13 Cole Caufield
#14 Nick Suzuki
#20 Juraj Slafkovský
#15 Alex Newhook
#91 Oliver Kapanen
#93 Ivan Demidov
#17 Josh Anderson
#71 Jake Evans
#11 Brendan Gallagher
#76 Zachary Bolduc
#90 Joe Veleno
#89 Joshua Roy
Left Defence
Right Defence
#8 Mike Matheson
#53 Noah Dobson
#47 Jayden Struble
#48 Lane Hutson
#72 Arber Xhekaj
#45 Alexandre Carrier
Starter
Backup
#75 Jakub Dobeš
#35 Samuel Montembeault
Scratched: Marc Del Gaizo
Injured: Kirby Dach, Kaiden Guhle. Patrik Laine
Calgary Flames projected lineup
Left Wing
Centre
Right Wing
Jonathan Huberdeau
Nazem Kadri
Joel Farabee
Blake Coleman
Mikael Backlund
Matt Coronato
Samuel Honzek
Morgan Frost
Connor Zary
Ryan Lomberg
Justin Kirkland
Adam Klapka
Left Defence
Right Defence
Kevin Bahl
Rasmus Andersson
Jake Bean
Mackenzie Weekar
Joel Hanley
Zayne Parekh
Starter
Backup
Dustin Wolf
Devin Cooley
