GAME PREVIEW | Canadiens – Red Wings: Weber Back for Habs

By
Sam Gerber
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GAME DAY | Montreal Canadiens vs Detroit Red Wings: Preview, TV,  Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Habs Tickets

Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game : MTL 3  DAL 4  F/OT   The Habs battled the Stars right to the end after giving up an early lead. But rather than the Canadiens’ collapse, much of the focus after the game was on officiating. The Habs were visible displeased and head coach was fined for his post-game comments. Montreal’s playoff chances are likely over.

For a complete game recap: Habs Express Frustrations

Players to watch

  • Joel Armia
    Armia is one of the strongest forwards for the Habs. He should have drawn a penalty in overtime last game but was a victim of inconsistent refereeing.
  • Brendan Gallagher
    Gallagher was furious with the officiating and did not hold back at the end of the game. Now it is time for him to re-focus and get on with the job at hand. However, Gallagher is listed as questionable for tonight’s game.
  • Paul Byron
    Byron is expected to play tonight after a long injury absence. The Habs have missed his speed and special teams play but it will be interesting to see if Byron can be the 20 goal scorer he was before battling injuries..  

Keys to Victory

  • Win special teams
    The Habs have lost a few times to the Wings already this season and need to be focused right from the start to not let it happen again. .
  • Score goals
    After criticizing the refs you know the Habs won’t get many breaks but the Habs cant worry about the refs they just need to play their game..
  • Limit mistakes
    The Wings give up a ton of goals and the Habs have a chance to light them up and they need to take advantage. .
Statistical Matchup by All Habs
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI | February 18, 7:30 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, FS-D

2019-20 statistics
RED WINGS CANADIENS
32 (31st) Points (rank) 62 (22nd)
14-43-4 Record 27-26-8
9-18-2 Home/Away 14-11-3
2-8-0 Last 10 5-4-1
1.98 GF/G 2.95
3.74 GA/G 3.07
14.6 PP% 18.8
75.5 PK% 78.8
45.82  CF% 54.08
Pre-game quotes
Claude Julien

  • “You never want to lose all four games to a team that’s below you in the standings, so that’s where we need to show some pride tonight. We’re not saying the Red Wings are a bad team, but they are below us, so we don’t want them to sweep us.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders by All Habs
Forwards
Fabbri – Larkin – Mantha
Bertuzzi – Filppula – Athanasiou
Helm – Glendening – Erne
Abdelkader – Ehn – Perlini		 Tatar – Danault – Weal
Drouin – Suzuki – Armia
Kovalchuk – Domi – Lehkonen
Byron – Thompson – Cousins
Defensemen
Nemeth – Lindstrom
Daley – Biega 
 Bowey – Ericsson		 Chiarot – Weber
Kulak – Petry
 Ouellet – Mete
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Smith
Injured: Zadina, DeKeyser, Hronek
 Scratched: Gallagher, Weise
Injured:
Goalies
Jonathan Bernier Carey Price
Record: 12-17-2
GAA: – 2.88
Sv%: – .909
SO: 1
Alternate: Jimmy Howard		 Record: 24-21-5
GAA: – 2.74
Sv%: – .911
SO: 3
Alternate: Charlie Lindgren
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
This is a game the Habs have to win. Montreal has already lost to the Red Wings three times this season. The Wings goal difference is over 100 and if the Habs can’t find the back of the net several times tonight management needs to take a look and the roster.
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