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

By
Sam Gerber
-
0
32
GameDay
Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game : MTL 2  ARI 1     The Canadiens got the win in a tight checking game delivered by Carey Price. He completely stole the game for career win 300. Price made 36 saves and looked almost unbeatable. The one he was beat on was deflected twice before getting to the net. Shea Weber blasted another power-play goal, the second power-play goal for the Habs in as many games. Paul Byron scored the game-winner tapping in a great no look pass from Phillip Danault.  

For a complete game recap: Habs Price Earns 300th Win

Players to watch

  • Tomas Tatar
    Tatar will be playing with a chip on his shoulder after being traded from Vegas in the off-season. After being relatively quiet recently, this is a game where he will be making an impact.
  • Shea Weber
    Weber showed some emotion at the end of last game. Expect him to be a physical force against Vegas.    
  • Andrew Shaw
    Shaw has been playing great hockey the last few weeks after he has finally become healthy.   

Keys to Victory

  • Be physical
    The Golden Knights are very physical team and the Habs have to be ready. Let Vegas  over-commit so that Montreal can use their transition game. 
  • Use the stretch pass
    The Canadiens need to start using the stretch pass to back teams up and to catch them cheating up the ice. It’s a play the Habs have to be careful making or it could easily be a turnover.
  • Limit opposition shots
    The Habs need to work a lot harder to keep the shots against down. But more importantly the Canadiens are top-5 in the league in giving up high danger scoring chances. That must change. 
Matchup by All Habs staff
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV | December 22, 4:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ATTSN-RM

2018-19 statistics
GOLDEN KNIGHTS CANADIENS
42 (12th) Points (rank) 41 (14th)
20-15-2 Record 18-13-5
11-3-1 Home/Away 8-6-3
6-3-1 Last 10 6-4-0
2.97 GF/G 3.03
2.78 GA/G 3.17
21.4 PP% 12.9
83.5 PK% 77.1
54.71  CF%  54.26
 
 
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Marchessault – Karlsson – Tuch
Pirri – Stastny – Smith
Lindberg – Eakin – Carpenter
Carrier – Bellemare – Reaves		 Drouin – Domi – Shaw
Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Byron – Kotkaniemi – Lehkonen
Agostino – Chaput – Deslauriers
Defensemen
McNabb – Schmidt
Theodore – Engelland
Holden – Hunt		 Benn – Weber
Reilly – Petry
   Kulak – Mete
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Merrill, Nosek
Injured: Haula, Pacioretty, Miller
 Scratched: Peca, Hudon, Schlemko
Injured: Armia
Goalies
Marc-Andre Fleury Carey Price
Record: 20-10-2
GAA: – 2.56
Sv%: – .907
SO: 5
Alternate: Malcolm Subban		 Record: 14-10-4
GAA: – 2.84
Sv%: – .905
SO: 1
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
Tomas Tatar should really want to prove himself against his former team. After being a acquired by Vegas for a boatload of picks, Tatar sat in the press box for the Golden Knights playoff run. It is his chance to show them the Knights that they made a mistake. It will be interesting to see how the Habs come out and play. It is the last game before the Christmas break and they should be prepared to empty the tanks. The Habs also had the day off and spent it in Vegas, which could lead to a sluggish start. Afternoon games are always a little different with routines changed up, which ever team has a strong start should leave with the all important two points. 
Highlights from the NHL
Quick Links from Rocket Sports Media publications
[wp_rss_multi_importer category=”3″ thisfeed=”8″ showdate=”0″]
 
 
Habs360-sm-06 [wp_rss_multi_importer category=”6″ showdate=”0″]
 
Tickets
   
   
Get Habs Tickets  
  • Need tickets for an upcoming Canadiens game? Click the following link for the best prices on available tickets: Montreal Canadiens Tickets
 download

Follow @AllHabs on Twitter

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR