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

A Look Back

It was another tough first period where the Habs weren’t ready to play and that cost them the game. Martin St. Louis said there were a lot of bystanders in the first period.  In any NHL game if one player on a team isn’t giving his best effort, the opponents will take advantage. That’s exactly what the Kraken did, make no mistake. The Kraken took it one step further by shutting the Habs down the rest of the game allowing their  frustrations to boil over.

Last game: MTL 0  SEA 4  F

For a complete game recap: ‘Not Good Enough for Passengers’ | RECAP: SEA @ MTL

Players to Watch

• David Savard
  Savard is at the declining stage of his career but can still be a very impactful player on the right team. Unfortunately, the modern era of the NHL is a much faster paced game than what Savard has played for years and with a depleted blue line Savard is playing a much larger role than he should be at this point.
• Nick Suzuki
  The goal drought continues for Suzuki who admitted his line was terrible in the first period of the game. The growing pains are showing in Suzuki’s first year as captain and with tonight’s game being the start of the second half of the season, he must  show not only the type of player but the type of captain he will be for the Habs.
• Jake Evans
  Evans showed some obvious frustration last game. It was nice to see as Evans is not one to be overly physical or lose his cool. More of an edge would do wonders for Evans’ game as it would frustrate opponents even more than his hard defensive play already does. The combination would be a wonderful surprise as it is missing from a majority of forwards for the Habs.

Keys to Victory

• Score first
  The Habs continue to struggle finding the back of the net and it won’t be easy against a good defensive team in the Predators, making that first goal even more important.
• Compete harder
  After a shutout loss and the head coach calling out players for not enough effort the Habs better have a strong response.
• Get physical
  The Predators are a very big, and physical team that enjoy playing that way. The Habs better be ready for a physical game and be prepared to give it back as much as they take it or they will be hit out of the building.

2022-23  statistics

• “It was a good practice [on Wednesday.] We had a team meeting before and kind of cleared some things up so I think for sure we’ll be ready for [Thursday] and we need a better start for sure.”

Bottom Line