NHL Game Preview: Montreal Canadiens at Vegas Golden Knights with Line Combinations 12/31/2024

Montreal Canadiens (16-17-3, 35 pts) at Vegas Golden Knights (25-8-3, 53 pts)

Venue: T-Mobile Arena
Date: Tuesday, December 31
Time: 3:00 pm ET
TV: ESPN+ /SCRIPPS/SN
Radio:
Montreal – 690 TSN
Vegas – Fox Sports Radio 98.9 FM / 1340 AM

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:

Montreal +1.5 ML +195
Vegas: -1.5 ML -238
O/U 6

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Montreal Canadiens News & Notes:

The Canadiens picked up their second straight win and fifth in their last six games. Through their recent stretch, they’ve outscored their opponents 28-12, led by Patrik Laine who has five goals and an assist in the last six games; the Canadiens are also 7-0 when Laine records a point.

Vegas Golden Knights News & Notes:

The Golden Knights are on a six-game winning streak and have won ten of their last 11, they’ve outscored their opponents 38-20 over the previous 11 games. The offense has been led by Victor Olofsson who has ten points in the last 11 games on five goals and five assists, and Jack Eichel who has 12 points on two goals and ten assists.

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lines

Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky
Newhook-Dach-Laine
Anderson-Dvorak-Gallagher
Heineman-Evans-Armia
Hutson-Matheson
Guhle-Carrier
Xhekaj-Savard

Montembeault
Dobes

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Montreal Hockey – Inside The Rink

Vegas Golden Knights Projected Lines:

Olofsson -Eichel-Stone
Hertl-Karlsson-Kolesar
Dorofeyev-Howden-Schwindt
Pearson-Laczynski-Holtz
Hanifin-Pietrangelo
McNabb-Theodore
Hague-Whitecloud

Hill
Samsonov

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Players To Watch:

Montreal Canadiens

Brendan Gallagher this season has 17 points on ten goals and seven assists. He’s faced the Golden Knights ten times in his career recording eight points on two goals and six assists; two of those assists came in the previous matchup this season.

Vegas Golden Knights

Jack Eichel this season has 48 points on ten goals and 38 assists. He’s faced the Canadiens 23 times in his career recording 24 points on six goals and 18 assists; in the previous matchup this season he had three points on a goal and two assists.

Injury Report:

Montreal Canadiens

C Rafael Harvey-Pinard – IR
D David Reinbacher – LTIR

Vegas Golden Knights

D Ben Hutton – IR
F Ivan Barbashev – DTD
F Nicholas Roy – DTD

Next Game:

Montreal – December 28 at Chicago Blackhawks
Vegas – January 2 vs. Philadelphia Flyers

ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing – Inside The Rink

Join Conrad and Chris as the discuss Gavin McKenna making the jump to the NCAA, Pittsburgh and San Jose making additions, and the NHL season to begin on October 7, 2025.

1. ITR 47: Then There Was Nothing 32:56
2. ITR 46: Offseason Chaos 24:53
3. ITR 45: Everything Is Happening 37:46
4. ITR 44: We Have A Champion…Again 56:17
5. ITR 43: It's Winning Time 39:10