GAME DAY PREVIEW | Montreal Canadiens vs Columbus Blue Jackets: Preview, TV, Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Habs Tickets

A Look Back

It was a scoreless game between the Habs and Jets in the first period. Joel Armia wasted no time in the second scoring in the opening minute to give the Habs their only lead of the game. The Jets answered back with two of their own and the Habs were down a goal heading into the final frame. Josh Anderson tied things up off a set faceoff play deflecting in the Jeff Petry shot but the Jets got the goal minutes later on the odd man rush. The Habs couldn’t come back for a third time and the Jets added an empty-netter.

Last game: MTL 2  WPG 4  F

For a complete game recap: 100th Goal for Anderson | RECAP: WPG @ MTL

Players to Watch

• Cole Caufield
  Caufield’s five-game goal streak came to end last game. The first line struggled and Caufield was weak defensively being a minus-2 on the night. Caufield is still young  and can be impact maker if he becomes a more complete player.
• Rem Pitlick
  Pitlick is giving Habs fans plenty of reasons to cheer for his offence. But the analytics folks label his as the worst player defensively in the league. It will be interesting to see if Pitlick has done enough to earn a spot next season and if management will temporarily accept his liabilities for the entertainment value.
• Carey Price
  There are rumblings that Carey Price will play this week. Price has been seen practicing for weeks and the belief is he is close to ready. Price will likely play a few  home games giving the fans a chance to show their support and appreciation for everything he has overcome this season.

Keys to Victory

• Use speed
  The Habs were victimized a few times by the Jets’ speed last game. Speed should be one of the Habs strengths and needs to be something they use to expose their opponents.
• Create offence
  The Habs continue to stay in games but the offense lacks creativity and once again the Habs are not generating a lot of shots making their offence often being opportunistic at best.
• Execute coverage
  Odd-man rushes are a part of hockey but when a team is giving up several a game it becomes an issue. The Habs have to work much harder on their defensive coverage to not give up so many glorious opportunities to their opponents.

2021-22  statistics

• “It’s going to be special tonight. As soon as we landed, it was my first time back in Columbus, and you just feel right at home a little bit. It kind of feels like you never left. We have so many good memories here. I had three kids here, and it feels like home. I just love Columbus to death. We’ll come back and visit. There’s a bunch of friends we have here, so it’s a special town for me.”

Josh Anderson

• “My time here in Columbus, I loved every minute of it. We had a great team here and a lot of great memories. It’s nice to be back. I’m going to enjoy tonight and take it all in.”

Bottom Line