GAME DAY | Flames – Canadiens: Preview, Prediction, Lines, Goalies, TV

By
Sam Gerber
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Game Preview by Sam Gerber, Staff Writer
Last game: MTL 3  STL  4 

The Canadiens were badly outplayed by the Blues but battled back to tie the game. It was ended by an unfortunate bounce off David Schlemko’s skate giving St. Louis the victory.

For a complete recap: Blues – Canadiens: Blues End Habs Win Streak

Players to watch

  • Max Pacioretty
    Pacioretty, like most snipers, is streaky. Currently in a downturn, the Canadiens need him to go on a tear.
  • Sean Monahan
    Monahan brings size and speed at center and should have a stiff matchup facing the Canadiens top defense.
  • Matthew Tkachuk
    Tkachuk has been compared to Claude Lemieux bringing all the good and bad that involves. Tkachuk has a hearing with the NHL on Thursday for his spear against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Keys to Victory

  • Get off to a fast start
    Montreal needs to start quickly to take advantage of home ice and a Calgary team that is coming off a back-to-back.
  • Maintain the pace
    The Canadiens need to play a 60 minute game taking advantage of a tired Flames squad late in the contest.
  • Finish your checks
    The Canadiens need to tighten up their defensive coverage and clear the front of teh net. 
Matchup 
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | December 7, 7:30 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, SNW

2017-18 statistics
FLAMES CANADIENS
36 (18th) Points (rank) 29 (22nd)
14-12-2 Record 13-13-3
7-4-2 Away/Home 8-6-2
4-4-2 Last 10 5-4-1
2.82 GF/G 2.75
3.17 GA/G 3.06
21.1 PP% 17.5
76.3 PK% 77.9
 52.51  CF%  51.47
 
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Gaudreau – Monahan – Ferland
Tkachuk – Backlund – Frolik
Bennett – Jankowski – Hathaway
Brouwer – Stajan – Lazar		 Byron – De La Rose – Galchenyuk
Pacioretty – Danault – Shaw
Hudon – Plekanec – Gallagher 
Deslauriers – Froese – Carr
Defensemen
Giordano – Hamilton
Brodie – Hamonic
Kulak – Stone		 Benn – Weber
Alzner – Petry
Jerabek – Schlemko
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Bartkowski, Hamilton
Injured: Versteeg, Jagr		 Scratched: Mete, Morrow
Injured: Hemsky, Scherbak, Montoya, Lehkonen, Drouin
Goalies
David Rittich Carey Price
Record: 1-1-0
GAA: 3.03
Sv%: .875
SO: 0
Alternate: Mike Smith		 Record: 8-8-1
GAA: 3.00
Sv%: .903
SO: 1
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect
Calgary should have some energy to start the game as most teams do at the Bell Centre. Montreal should be able to take advantage of the Flames back-to-back, dominating the later half of the game. 

Prediction: Canadiens 4  Flames 2 

The Canadiens should be able to take advantage of a young goaltender with just one start this season.
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