Slafkovsky vs Wright | PREVIEW: MTL @ SEA

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

It was a great game that got away from the Habs as they squandered a four goal lead,  collapsing after the first period. The Canucks started their comeback in the second and managed to take the lead in the third. The Habs put up a fight and regained the lead but gave up a late goal and fell in overtime. It was a bad loss as no NHL team should lose after being up by four goals.

Last game: MTL 3  EDM 5  F

For a complete game recap: Wild Wild West | RECAP: MTL @ VAN

Players to Watch

  • Jake Evans
    Due to injuries, Evans will be given a bigger role, this is the biggest chance he will get this season and needs to make the most of it.
  • Juraj Slafkovsky
    A lot of eyes are going to be on Shane Wright who will want to put a show on. The Habs drafted Slafkovsky for a reason and this is a game where he could shine.
  • Jordan Harris
    While the game was all over the place, Jordan Harris had a great game and continues to show his value when placed in the lineup.

Keys to Victory

  • Play within the structure
    Losing a four goal lead is awful and the Habs have to have a lot more structure while they’re playing to prevent that.
  • Raise the compete level
    The Habs can’t afford to take their foot off the gas even if they are up a few goals. Continuing to compete for a full game is expected at the NHL level and needs to be shown tonight.
  • Win special teams
    With a few injuries the Habs special teams have to make a difference and be positive point in the game for the Habs.
Statistical Matchup for Game 26
CP Arena, Seattle, WA | December 5, 10:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, ROOT-NW

2022-23  statistics
KRAKEN CANADIENS
33 (5th) Points (rank) 26 (21st)
15-6-3 Record 12-11-2
L1 Streak OT1
7-2-1 Last 10 4-5-1
3.67 (5th) GF/G (rank) 2.92 (22nd)
3.13 (18th) GA/G (rank) 3.60 (27th)
26.0 (8th) PP% (rank) 17.1 (29th)
66.7 (30th) PK% (rank) 79.1 (12th)
44.2  Faceoff % 51.6
Pre-game Quotes
Marty St. Louis 

  • “If you really watch the game, we could’ve been down 2-0 early and somehow we weren’t. We were up 4-0 and, honestly, halfway through the game, we should’ve been up 6-0.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Schwartz – Wennberg – Burakovsky
McCann – Beniers – Eberle
Gourde – Wright – Bjorkstrand
Tanev – Geekie – Sprong		 Caufield – Suzuki – Dach
Slafkovsky – Evans – Anderson
Dadonov – Dvorak – Armia
Pezzetta – Pitlick – Wideman
Defensemen
Dunn – Larsson
Oleksiak – Schultz
Soucy – Borgen		 Edmundson – Guhle
Matheson – Kovacevic
Xhekaj – Harris
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Donato, Fleury, Kuhlman
Injured: Donskoi, Driedger		 Scratched:
Injured: Byron (hip), Price (knee), Drouin (upper-body), Hoffman (lower-body), Gallagher (lower-body), Savard (upper-body injury), Monahan (lower-body)
Goalies
Martin Jones Jake Allen
Record: 12-4-2
GAA: 2.90
Sv%: .893
SO: 1
Alternate: Phillip Grubauer		 Record: 7-9-0
GAA: 3.51
Sv%: .893
SO: 0
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
While its highly unlikely to see another high scoring game like last night it’s not impossible. Both teams give up a lot of goals and do not have top-tier goaltending. The Habs will want to be a lot sharper defensively and make it a tight checking game.

Bottom Line

This should be a win for the Habs but after last night’s late and wild game, the Habs might have to find an extra gear to get the two points.
 Video Highlights

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