Fan Appreciation Night | PREVIEW: FLA @ MTL

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

The Habs ended their losing streak in a back and forth match with the Rangers ‘B’ team. Montreal was able to take advantage of a Rangers team that rested several key players for their upcoming playoff run. Jeff Petry made the most of the opportunity and played one of his best games of the season scoring twice including the game winner.

Last game: MTL 4  NYR 3  F

For a complete game recap: Petry Scores Twice | RECAP: MTL @ NYR

Players to Watch

  • Jeff Petry
    In what is likely to be his last game as a member of the Habs, Petry has an encore to perform after showing his Norris-like effort last game. It will be bitter sweet to move on from such a quality defenceman but the Habs should get a great return in any deal.
  • Brendan Gallagher
    Gallagher has had a career worst season, and the soon to be thirty year-old has five more years on his deal. The once fan favorite has become an expensive liability for the Habs and a tough decision could be made this off season. The bottom line: Gallagher needs to do everything he can to stay healthy.
  • Alexander Romanov
    The most reliable player for the Habs this season on the backend will be needing a new contract this offseason. This is an important deal for both sides as the Habs have several left shot defensemen in the system but none that can play at the caliber of Romanov. It will be interesting to see the terms of the extension.

Keys to Victory

  • Skate hard
    The Habs have to finish the season strong and can’t afford to stop skating or they will get caught.
  • Play for the fans
    The game doesn’t matter but the fans have suffered through a tough season and the Habs need to give them something to enjoy and cheer about.
  • Be creative
    The Habs lack a lot of offensive play making and it is often one dimensional, something that will be focused in the off season. A few bubble players for the roster next season have one last game to show what they can do.
Statistical Matchup for Game 82
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | April 29, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, BSFL

2021-22  statistics
PANTHERS CANADIENS
122 (1st) Points (rank) 53 (32nd)
58-17-6 Record 21-49-11
W1 Streak W1
8-2-0 Last 10 1-9-0
4.14 (1st) GF/G (rank) 2.57 (31st)
2.86 (11th) GA/G (rank) 3.89 (32nd)
24.1 (7th) PP% (rank) 13.4 (31st)
79.8 (15th) PK%  (rank) 75.8 (25th)
48.3  Faceoff % 49.1
Pre-game Quotes
Martin St. Louis

  • “I think we should find a way to put in a good effort in our last game. We will be in front of our fans and we will want to end the season on a high note.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Huberdeau – Barkov – Duclair
Marchment – Bennett – Giroux
Mamin – Lundell – Reinhart
Lomberg – Luostarinen – Acciari		 Caufield – Suzuki – Hoffman
R. Pitlick – Dvorak – Gallagher
Perreault – Evans – Anderson
Pezzetta – Poehling – T. Pitlick
Defensemen
Chiarot – Weegar
Forsling – Montour
Carlsson – Gudas		 Romanov – Savard
Edmundson – Petry
Harris – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Thornton, Lindbohm,  Hornqvist, Hagg, Johansson
Injured: Nutivaara, Ekblad, Verhaeghe		 Scratched: Lagesson, Clague, Dauphin
Injured: Byron (lower-body), Armia (family), Allen (lower-body), Barron (lower-body), Drouin (upper-body), Weber (multiple injuries)
Goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky Carey Price
Record: 39-7-3
GAA: 2.67
Sv%: .913
SO: 3
Alternate: Spencer Knight		 Record: 0-4-0
GAA: 4.04
Sv%: .853
SO: 0
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
The Habs get to finish the season against the President’s Trophy winners. What a way to finish, first place vs last place. The Panthers are likely to rest several of their key players for their playoffs so the Habs need to take advantage once again and finish the season with a win.

Bottom Line

Win or loss it doesn’t matter the Habs have locked up last place and will have a 18.5 percent chance of winning the draft lottery.
 Video Highlights

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