Return to Action | PREVIEW: NJD @ MTL

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Sam Gerber
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GAME DAY PREVIEW | Montreal Canadiens vs New Jersey Devils: Preview, TV, Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Habs Tickets

Game Preview 

A Look Back

The Habs are back in action after a must-needed All-Star break. They have lost six straight games, including a blowout against the Blue Jackets. Goaltending has been a challenge for the Habs all season primarily due to young netminders playing above their skill level. It was a pleasant sight to see Carey Price in full gear giving fans hope.

Last game: MTL 3  CBJ 6 F

For a complete game recap: Comeback Thwarted | RECAP: CBJ @ MTL

Players to Watch

  • Nick Suzuki
    Fresh off his All-Star performance, Suzuki will be looking to continue his great play before the break where he had six points in his last eight games. The Habs can still salvage the player development aspect of this season and giving Suzuki top tier linemates will be extremely beneficial.
  • Brendan Gallagher
    No one has gone through more in the last ten years for the Habs than Gallagher. The 29-year-old veteran needs to prove he can keep his composure but more importantly prove that he can still produce in the NHL at a high level after several injuries that have affected him severely. His leadership can be a benefit.
  • Brett Kulak
    It is shocking how little Kulak’s name has been mentioned given the course of the season. He is a UFA at the end of the season and while he has some trade value, the Habs have several prospects who can take his place next season. Don’t be surprised to see Kulak moved before the deadline.

Keys to Victory

  • Use speed
    The Habs need to get back to the basics and do what they are good at, playing with speed, with and without the puck. The Habs have a lot of speed and can lead to scoring chances. Playing quick consistency and relentlessly will be key to the game.
  • Play with energy
    Hopefully, the break was beneficial for the Habs. The Habs shouldn’t have too much  rust and should be able to take advantage of the Devils who will be playing their second night of a back to back.
  • Win special teams
    It could be a trap game from the Devils which makes the special teams all the more important. The Habs have been surprisingly good on the power-play and need to keep that going in the second half of the season in order to steal a few points here and there.
Statistical Matchup for Game 45
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | February 8, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, MSG

2021-22  statistics
DEVILS CANADIENS
35 (28th) Points (rank) 23 (32nd)
15-26-5 Record 8-29-7
L7 Streak L4
1-9-0 Last 10 1-6-3
2.74 (22nd) GF/G (rank) 2.23 (31st)
3.54 (29th) GA/G (rank) 3.91 (32nd)
16.9 (24th) PP% (rank) 13.9 (31st)
82.0 (12th) PK%  (rank) 73.3 (30th)
47.4  Faceoff % 47.6
Pre-game Quotes
Paul Byron

  • “It’s no real secret where we are in the standings, but you just have to find a way to create a fire in you, internal fuel, and find a way to make every game important and make every game matter.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Sharangovich – Hischier – Bratt
Boqvist – Zacha – Vesey
Johnsson – Mercer – Tatar
Kuokkanen – McLeod – Bastian		 Lehkonen – Suzuki – Toffoli
Byron – Evans – Anderson
Hoffman – Dauphin – Gallagher
Armia – Poehling – Caufield
Defensemen
Siegenthaler – Severson
Smith – Graves
White – Subban		 Chiarot – Romanov
Kulak – Petry
Clague – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched:
Injured: Wood, Bernier, Hamilton, Blackwood
COVID-19: Hughes		 Scratched: Paquette, Pezzetta, Pitlick
Injured: Dvorak (upper-body), Savard (ankle), Allen (lower-body), Drouin (upper-body), Perreault (lower-body), Edmundson (back), Price (knee), Weber (multiple injuries)
COVID-19:
Goalies
Jon Gillies Cayden Primeau
Record: 1-6-0
GAA: 3.51
Sv%: .889
SO: 0
Alternate: Nico Daws		 Record: 1-5-1
GAA: 4.26
Sv%: .885
SO: 0
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
Thirty-eight games remain for the Habs this season and to reach a playoff spot the Habs will likely have to have a winning percentage above eighty. That is more than unlikely and it’s unfortunate for a team that made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals a season ago. It goes to show how important core players are to a roster and how fast things can change in the NHL. There is also only forty days until the NHL trade deadline and teams are going to move fast to get the players they want. The Habs are going to be big sellers and players are going to be showcased over the next twenty games.. 

Bottom Line

The Habs are becoming healthy again so they may start to win a few more games than expected but sadly the towel has already been thrown in, hopefully the players show they are still willing to fight for some pride and their fans..
 Video Highlights

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