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- calendar_today October 10, 2026
Montreal Canadiens Host Detroit Red Wings in Game 5
The Montreal Canadiens are set to play the Detroit Red Wings in Game 5 of the NHL season, with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 PM EDT (4:00 PM PDT). Fans in Canada can catch the action on Sportsnet East (English) or TVA Sports (French), while viewers in the Red Wings region can watch via Detroit SportsNet. The game is also available for streaming on ESPN+, Sportsnet+, and TVAS+.
Kaiden Guhle Returns to Canadiens Lineup
One of the biggest stories for the Canadiens heading into tonight's matchup is the return of defenseman Kaiden Guhle. After missing the start of the season, Guhle is now healthy and ready to make his season debut. His presence is expected to bolster the Canadiens defense, which has struggled with lapses during the current three-game losing streak.
Canadiens Shuffle Defense After Struble Trade
The Canadiens' blue line has seen recent changes, including the trade of Jayden Struble. However, Montreal still has seven defensemen on the active roster, all of whom are expected to dress tonight. This allows the coaching staff to manage Guhle's minutes and prevent overworking Lane Hutson and Mike Matheson, who have averaged heavy workloads in the early going. As a result, the team will play with one fewer forward, and Florian Xhekaj will sit out after appearing in the previous two games.
Opportunity on the Power Play Against Red Wings' Penalty Kill
Special teams could be a decisive factor in tonight's NHL matchup. The Red Wings arrive in Montreal with the league's 32nd-ranked penalty kill, presenting the Canadiens with a prime opportunity to improve their power play production. Generating offense with the man advantage could provide a much-needed spark for a team looking to snap its losing streak.
Projected Canadiens Lineup for Game 5
Forwards
- Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkovský
- Chris Kreider – Alex Newhook – Josh Anderson
- Zachary Bolduc – Phillip Danault – Alexandre Texier
- Jake Evans – Kirby Dach
Defense Pairings
- Lane Hutson – Alexandre Carrier
- Mike Matheson – Noah Dobson
- Kaiden Guhle – Adam Engström
- Arber Xhekaj
Goaltenders
- Starter: Jacob Fowler
- Backup: Jakub Dobeš
Injured: Ivan Demidov, Samuel Montembeault
Scratched: Oliver Kapanen, Florian Xhekaj
Detroit Red Wings Lineup for Montreal Visit
Forwards
- Viktor Arvidsson – Dylan Larkin – Lucas Raymond
- Alex DeBrincat – Emmitt Finnie – Michael Brandsegg-Nygård
- Michael Rasmussen – Andrew Copp – Keegan Kolesar
- Nate Danielson – Carter Mazur
Defense Pairings
- Albert Johansson – Moritz Seider
- Ben Chiarot – Anton Johansson
- William Wallinder – Justin Faulk
- Axel Sandin-Pellikka
Goaltenders
- Starter: Daniil Tarasov
- Backup: John Gibson
How to Watch the Game
- Start Time: 7:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM PDT
- TV (Canada): Sportsnet East (English), TVA Sports (French)
- TV (Red Wings region): Detroit SportsNet
- Streaming: ESPN+, Sportsnet+, TVAS+
With the return of key defenseman Kaiden Guhle, an opportunity to exploit Detroit’s penalty kill, and both teams aiming to establish momentum, this matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and the Detroit Red Wings shapes up as an intriguing battle early in the NHL season.
Source: habseyesontheprize.com.
