Scouting the Chicago Fire game

Chicago Fire at Montreal Impact

When: 1 p.m. at Olympic Stadium

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Scouting the Fire: The Fire hopes to open the 2012 season as well as it finished the 2011 season. It will play without starting goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who is in Olympic qualifying with the U.S. U-23 team. Otherwise, the Fire should have the same lineup as it finished with last year.

Scouting the Montreal Impact: The expansion Impact hopes to see 60,000 fans for its first home game, and it hopes for a better showing than last week's 2-0 loss at Vancouver. The coaching staff — led by Jesse Marsch and including Mike Sorber and Denis Hamlett — should look familiar to Fire fans.

Next: Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m. March 24 at Toyota Park

— Orrin Schwarz