Jarred Tinordi to make season debut vs. Predators

Colorado Avalanche forward Cody McLeod and Montreal Canadiens defenceman Jarred Tinordi engage in a lengthy tussle.

Montreal defenceman Jarred Tinordi will make his season debut when the struggling Canadiens (20-11-3) visit the Nashville Predators (16-11-6) Monday.

Tinordi will play for Jeff Petry, who suffered a lower-body injury in Montreal’s 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars last Saturday.

Petry practised with his teammates in Nashville on Sunday and is being listed as day-to-day.

As for Tinordi, who’s been a healthy scratch for all 34 games the Canadiens have played, this will be the 44th game of his NHL career. After being selected 22nd overall in the 2010 Entry Draft, he’s struggled mightily to make his place on Montreal’s roster.

This season, Tinordi’s waiver eligibility and the Canadiens’ depth on defence has put him in a precarious position. General manager Marc Bergevin hasn’t wanted to risk losing him for nothing by sending him down to the minors. And the team had been remarkably healthy on defence until now.

Tinordi was loaned to Montreal’s AHL affiliate, the St. John’s IceCaps, for a conditioning stint from Nov. 26-Dec. 6. He collected two assists and was plus-3 over a six-game stretch.

“It’s a situation that’s been very difficult for him, we all know,” said Canadiens coach Michel Therrien Monday. “He’s been training hard, he has a good attitude. We hope he has a good game because he deserves to.”

Tinordi will play to the left of Tom Gilbert on Montreal’s third defence pair, pushing Andrei Markov to their second unit with Alexei Emelin.

P.K. Subban and Nathan Beaulieu will be paired together for a third consecutive game, as the Canadiens are chasing just their second win in their last nine.

Goaltender Dustin Tokarski (1-2-0) will start for Montreal. He has a save percentage of .893 and a goals against average 2.95.

With files from the Canadian Press

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