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

A Look Back

It was a fast-paced display of hockey in Vancouver. Despite some shaky goaltending and  costly penalties, there was non-stop action.  Artturi Lehkonen, Rem Pitlick and Jake Evans combined for seven points on the night. The Habs fell short in the third period.

Last game: MTL 3  VAN 5  F

For a complete game recap: 3 Points for Lehkonen | RECAP: MTL @ VAN

Players to Watch

• Artturi Lehkonen
  Lehkonen has 28 points already tying his debut season in the NHL and is on pace to smash his personal high of 31 points in 2018-’19. Interim head coach Marty St. Louis praised Lehkonen saying that he “is a player that many coaches like to have on their team.” With eight points (six goals) in six games, it appears that Lehkonen has found an extra gear.
• Joel Edmundson
  Edmundson will make his season debut against the Kraken after rehabbing a back injury for 57 games. Edmundson’s leadership has been missed and is an important piece to the Habs defensive corps.
• Ryan Poehling
  In his last seven games, Poehling has averaged 59.3 percent in the face-off dot. This is tops for Canadiens forwards by far, which has led to him being a regular fixture on the power-play. It hasn’t yet led to increased icetime but that may come with Poehling out performing middle six centres.

Keys to Victory

• Be disciplined
  The Canadiens are third in the league with 598 penalty minutes and have allowed six powerplay goals in their last four games. Making smart defensive plays and avoid ing being caught flat-footed leading is something the Habs need to improve on.
• Limit grade ‘A’ shots
  Shutting down shots from the slot and pushing them to the outside will help the team  get through some shaky goaltending until Jake Allen and Carey Price return.
• Shoot the puck
  The Kraken are second in the league with the fewest amount of shots allowed and are tied for 28th in goals allowed.  Goaltending has been an issue for Seattle and Montreal can take advantage of their increased goal production.

2021-22  statistics

• “He’s a solid defender, difficult to face. I can’t wait to get him back in action. He’s going to talk to us during the match… I don’t think he’s going to come in and play 20 or 22 minutes. You have to be careful when the guys come back into training.”

Bottom Line