Jets at Canadiens preview

JETS (22-16-4) at CANADIENS (18-17-7)
7 p.m. ET; TSN2, RDS, TSN3, NHL.TV

Kovalchuk, who agreed to a one-year, two-way, $700,000 contract with the Canadiens on Friday, will play his first game since Nov. 9 after practicing on the first line and top power-play unit at the morning skate.
The 36-year-old forward had nine points (three goals, six assists) in 17 games with the Los Angeles Kings this season. He was a healthy scratch in his final 18 games before he was placed on unconditional waivers Dec. 16 and had his contract terminated the next day.
Montreal is looking for its first win in six games (0-4-1) after going 6-2-0 in the previous eight.
Winnipeg is 2-5-2 in its past nine games since going 7-2-1 in the previous 10.

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Players to Watch

Jets forward Mark Scheifele was named the NHL Second Star of the Week after he had eight points (three goals, five assists) during a three-game point streak. He also scored a goal in each game.
Canadiens forward Max Domi has 12 points (six goals, six assists) during a nine-game point streak.

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They said it

"They're a really, really quick team, really good sticks, and very disciplined in their style. That counter-game that they run, they get it going north real fast. And they've got lots of confidence to make plays in the offensive zone." -- Jets coach Paul Maurice
"I'm pumped. I'm very excited. You know the way the fans, the city has responded, it's crazy. So I have a lot of things to prove. And I'm not going to do anything special, but I just want to try to help the team win." -- Canadiens forward Ilya Kovalchuk

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Jets projected lineup

Kyle Connor -- Mark Scheifele -- Patrik Laine
Nikolaj Ehlers -- Blake Wheeler -- Jack Roslovic
Andrew Copp -- Adam Lowry -- Mathieu Perreault
Gabriel Bourque -- Nicholas Shore -- Mason Appleton
Josh Morrissey -- Tucker Poolman
Luca Sbisa -- Neal Pionk
Anthony Bitetto -- Sami Niku
Connor Hellebuyck
Laurent Brossoit
Scratched:Logan Shaw, Jansen Harkins, Carl Dahlstrom
Injured: Dmitry Kulikov (upper body), Bryan Little (ear), Nathan Beaulieu (lower body)
Suspended: Dustin Byfuglien

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Canadiens projected lineup

Tomas Tatar -- Phillip Danault -- Ilya Kovalchuk
Artturi Lehkonen -- Max Domi -- Nick Suzuki
Ryan Poehling -- Jesperi Kotkaniemi -- Nick Cousins
Jordan Weal -- Nate Thompson -- Dale Weise
Ben Chiarot -- Shea Weber
Marco Scandella -- Jeff Petry
Victor Mete -- Cale Fleury
Carey Price
Charlie Lindgren
Scratched:Christian Folin, Brett Kulak, Lukas Vejdemo
Injured: Brendan Gallagher (concussion), Paul Byron (upper body), Joel Armia (hand), Jonathan Drouin (wrist), Matthew Peca (knee)

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Status report

Niku will play his first game since Oct. 8 after he was recalled from Manitoba of the American Hockey League on Thursday. He will begin the game on the right side, though he could move to the left with Pionk at some point, Jets coach Paul Maurice said after an optional morning skate. … Drouin and Armia were on the ice after the morning skate.

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Stat pack

Connor has 10 points (seven goals, three assists) in the past seven games. … Lowry will play his 400th NHL game. … Price is 15-5-4 with a 2.18 goals-against average, .925 save percentage and three shutouts in 25 games against the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers.