Montreal Canadiens Set to Face Philadelphia Flyers in Preseason Opener

The Montreal Canadiens are gearing up to begin their 2024-25 preseason campaign with a matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Bell Centre. The highly anticipated game is scheduled for a 7 PM ET puck drop.

Despite being in the midst of a rebuilding phase, excitement surrounds the Canadiens as fans eagerly await to see how the young roster will perform as they gain experience. Key players such as Juraj Slafkovsky, Nick Suzuki, and Cole Caufield are expected to be pivotal in generating scoring opportunities. The introduction of Patrik Laine, who will be playing his first organized game against an NHL opponent in a Canadiens uniform, adds further intrigue. Laine will join the first line alongside Kirby Dach and winger Alex Newhook, providing an attack focused on speed and efficient transition play.

Montreal’s head coach, Martin St-Louis, expressed anticipation about the performance of the new line, stating, “We’re looking for the Laine-Dach-Newhook line to be collectively challenging to play against,” according to Priyanta Emrith.

The Canadiens’ lineup will feature promising young forwards including Jared Davidson, Emil Heineman, Luke Tuch, and Oliver Kapanen. Additionally, top defensive prospects such as Lane Hutson, Adam Engstrom, and Logan Mailloux will take the ice, supported by seasoned veterans David Savard and Justin Barron to bolster the team’s defense.

The Flyers are set to play their second game in as many nights, following a decisive 6-2 victory over the Washington Capitals. In that game, top prospects Matvei Michkov, Bobby Brink, and Jett Luchanko made significant contributions. However, these prospects will be resting tonight, with the Flyers’ lineup featuring notable players like Sean Couturier, Anthony Richard, and former Canadien Nicolas Deslauriers.

Montreal’s lineup will be televised on RDS, with a recap and highlights available following the game.