Canadiens vs Blue Jackets projected lineup November 17 2025: who’s in, who’s out, and what to expect

The Montreal Canadiens roll into Nationwide Arena on Monday night looking to snap a three-game slide, while the Columbus Blue Jackets aim to extend a four-game point streak when the clubs meet at 7:30 p.m. ET. Both teams arrived at morning skate with fresh line combinations, injury updates, and one eye on the standings—Montreal sits at 10-6-2 (22 pts) and Columbus at 9-7-2 (20 pts), so the gap between wild-card positions could shrink to a single point by the final horn.

Canadiens vs Blue Jackets projected lineup November 17 2025: Montreal’s new-look top nine

Head coach Martin St-Louis is staying aggressive despite the recent 0-3 rut, keeping his most productive trio intact and promoting a red-hot AHL call-up to give the middle six a spark.

Forwards

1. Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkovsky
2. Zach Bolduc – Oliver Kapanen – Ivan Demidov
3. Joshua Roy – Jake Evans – Josh Anderson
4. Jared Davidson – Joe Veleno – Brendan Gallagher

The biggest change is the insertion of Joshua Roy, recalled Sunday after Kirby Dach broke his foot blocking a shot against Boston. Roy was leading Laval in scoring (7-9-16 in 14 GP) and gives the third line a play-driving element that was missing with Dach sidelined 4-6 weeks. St-Louis indicated he wants Roy on the half-wall during second-unit power plays, a role Dach had recently claimed.

Defense pairs

• Mike Matheson – Noah Dobson
• Jayden Struble – Lane Hutson
• Arber Xhekaj – Alexandre Carrier

No surprises on the blue line. Dobson continues to quarterback PP1, while Hutson—fresh off his first NHL assist Saturday—gets another showcase alongside the physical Struble. Marc Del Gaizo was recalled as insurance but is expected to sit.

Goaltending

• Jakub Dobes (projected starter)
• Sam Montembeault

Dobes stopped 28 of 30 in his last outing versus Buffalo and owns a .918 SV% through five appearances. With three games in four nights coming up, the staff is comfortable riding the hot hand rather than forcing Montembeault into the second half of a back-to-back later this week.

Injuries: Kaiden Guhle (lower-body, IR), Patrik Laine (lower-body, week-to-week), Alex Newhook (broken ankle), Kirby Dach (foot).

Canadiens vs Blue Jackets projected lineup November 17 2025: Columbus shuffles middle six in search of finish

The Blue Jackets have collected points in four straight (3-0-1) but were left frustrated Saturday after a shootout loss to the Rangers in which they generated 40 shots yet scored only once. Coach Dean Evason responded by flipping his second and third lines at practice Sunday, hoping to drag a little more finish out of a group that’s averaging exactly three goals per night during the streak.

Forwards

1. Dmitri Voronkov – Adam Fantilli – Kirill Marchenko
2. Yegor Chinakhov – Sean Monahan – Kent Johnson
3. Cole Sillinger – Charlie Coyle – Mathieu Olivier
4. Zach Aston-Reese – Isac Lundestrom – Miles Wood

Fantilli’s line stays together; the rookie center has three goals in his last four games. The tweak is sliding Chinakhov—previously on the fourth unit—up to the left of Monahan and Johnson, a trio that dominated shot share (63 CF%) in limited minutes last week. Aston-Reese draws back in on the fourth line after three healthy scratches, replacing Luca Del Bel Belluz.

Defense pairs

• Zach Werenski – Ivan Provorov
• Denton Mateychuk – Damon Severson
• Jake Christiansen – Dante Fabbro

Werenski has torched Montreal in the past (1-5-6 in four meetings last season) and will look to keep that roll going against a Canadiens power play that’s 0-for-8 during its losing streak. Mateychuk, the 19-year-old rookie, skated a career-high 21:05 against New Jersey last Thursday and is earning trust in all situations.

Goaltending

• Jet Greaves (projected starter)
• Elvis Merzlikins

Greaves is 3-0-1 with a 2.21 GAA since being recalled when Merzlikins fell ill. The staff wants to ride the momentum, so expect Greaves to get the call again even though Merzlikins is fully healthy.

Injuries: Erik Gudbranson (hip, IR), Boone Jenner (upper-body, week-to-week).

Key matchup: Montreal’s struggling power play vs Columbus’ aggressive PK

The Canadiens have gone three straight without a man-advantage goal, including a five-minute major that fizzled against Boston. Zone entries have been the culprit—without Laine’s one-timer threat, opponents are overloading Suzuki’s wall pass and forcing shots from the point. Columbus, meanwhile, has killed 12 of its last 13 penalties, pressuring high and using Fantilli’s long reach to spring quick shorthanded chances. If the Jackets stay out of the box (they’ve taken only six minors in the last two games), Montreal could spend another night searching for offense.

Fantasy / betting nuggets

• Caufield has points in eight of his last nine versus Columbus (4-7-11).
• Fantilli has scored in back-to-back home games; his points prop sits at 0.5 across most books.
• Under 6.0 goals has cashed in five straight Montreal road games.

What the coaches said

Martin St-Louis on integrating Roy quickly:
“We’re not asking Josh to be Kirby. We’re asking him to be Josh—win wall battles, make plays under pressure. If he does that, the points will follow.”

Dean Evason on Greaves’ recent run:
“Sometimes your goalie gives you the backbone to play fearless. Jet’s done that; now we need five guys in front of him to finish the job.”

Final thoughts and next up

A regulation win vaults Columbus into the final wild-card spot in the East; the same result pushes Montreal back on track ahead of a three-game homestand that includes dates with Toronto and Detroit. With both teams missing key veterans—Laine and Jenner—the depth scoring that emerges from the shuffled middle six will likely decide the night. Expect a tight-checking affair that could come down to special teams or a late goalie pull; whichever club cashes on its 5-on-5 forecheck first will leave Ohio two points happier.

Stay tuned for post-game reaction and updated Atlantic and Metropolitan standings right here on NHL Insight. If you missed our earlier previews, catch the Flyers vs Canadiens projected lineup November 4, 2025 breakdown or the Blue Jackets at Islanders projected lineups November 2, 2025 analysis for more lineup clues as the season unfolds.