Habs Debut for Gurianov | PREVIEW: MTL @ SJS

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

After giving up the lone goal in the first period the Habs had a great start to the second, catching a sleeping Sens team early on but failed to keep the foot on the gas and collapsed in the third period. This is a game to forget for Sam Montembeault who failed to give his club a chance to win and was outplayed by Mads Sogaard who was by far busier.

Last game: MTL 2  OTT 5  F

For a complete game recap: Habs Bow to Sens | RECAP: OTT @ MTL

Players to Watch

  • Nick Suzuki
    Suzuki has goals in three straight after only having one in the previous thirteen games. This is the level we’re used to seeing Suzuki play and the Habs need him at this level for them to be competitive in games.
  • Denis Gurianov
    The Habs made a small trade moving Eugenii Dadonov for Denis Gurianov from the Dallas Stars. Gurianov will get a clean slate to find his game again and is getting a great chance on the first line with Mike Hoffman and Nick Suzuki. Gurianov is a big body with close to three 30 point seasons. He was drafted 12th overall in 2015.
  • Joel Edmundson
    It remains to be seen if Edmundson will play but he is on the road trip. The rumors continue to swirl as the trade deadline is only a few days away and several clubs have been keeping tabs on Edmundson.

Keys to Victory

  • Use speed
    The speed of the game continues to get faster every year and the Habs fail to take advantage of it. The Habs could be one of the fastest teams in the league but fail to keep the pace up in games and allow the other teams to beat them in one of the most important aspects in the game.
  • Play your game
    The Habs have to play their game and not allow their opponents’ game plan to take over.
  • Win special teams
    The Sharks give up a lot of goals and the Habs have to take advantage especially on the power play.
Statistical Matchup for Game 60
SAP Center, San Jose, CA | February 28, 10:30 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, NBCSCA

2022-23  statistics
SHARKS CANADIENS
48 (29th) Points (rank) 54 (26th)
18-30-12 Record 25-30-4
OT1 Streak L1
4-5-1 Last 10 5-5-0
2.97 (23rd) GF/G (rank) 2.70 (27th)
3.62 (27th) GA/G (rank) 3.63 (29th)
18.6 (26th) PP% (rank) 16.8 (29th)
83.6 (3rd) PK% (rank) 73.8 (28th)
50.1  Faceoff % 49.3
Pre-game 
Denis Gurianov

  • “I’m excited to be able to play for one of the original six teams. It’s a great challenge for me. Playing hockey for Montreal fans seems quite pleasant to me!”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
 Eyssimont – Couture – Barabanov
Zetterlund – Hertl – Johnsson
Bonino – Sturm – Gregor
Lindblom – Lorentz – Svechnikov		 Hoffman – Suzuki – Gurianov
Harvey-Pinard – Drouin – Anderson
Pitlick – Dvorak – Ylonen
Pezzetta – Tierney – Belzile
Defensemen
Ferraro – Karlsson
Vlasic – Benning
Simek – MacDonald		 Guhle – Savard
Matheson – Barron
Harris – Kovacevic
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Cicek, Labanc
Injured: Nutivaara, Kunin, Gadjovich		 Scratched:
Injured: Byron (hip), Price (knee), Monahan (lower-body), Gallagher (lower-body), Evans (lower-body), Slafkovsky (lower-body), Caufield (shoulder), Edmundson (upper-body), Xhekaj (upper-body), Dach (lower-body), Wideman (upper-body), Armia (illness)
Goalies
Kaapo Kahkonen Jake Allen
Record: 8-12-5
GAA: 3.57
Sv%: .885
SO: 1
Alternate: James Reimer		 Record: 13-18-2
GAA: 3.42
Sv%: .895
SO: 1
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
While the Habs may be six points ahead of the Sharks this won’t be an easy game. The Sharks are second in the league in overtime losses which will likely make this a close game. The Sharks made a big splash in the trade deadline moving Timo Meier to the Devils leaving a big hole in the Sharks lineup.

Bottom Line

A loss tonight sadly does more good for the Habs than a win, while it’s hard to cheer for a loss the Habs gaining any lottery percentage and the Shark’s losing could go a long way at the draft lottery.
 Video Highlights

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