GAME DAY | Avalanche – Canadiens: Preview, Prediction, Lines, Goalies, TV

By
Sam Gerber
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Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game: MTL 1  BOS  4   

The Canadiens were no match for the Bruins top line once again.

For a complete recap: Habs Drop Third Straight to Boston

Players to watch

  • Nathan MacKinnon
    Mackinnon is second in the league in points. He is just four points off his career season high with just under half the season to go.
  • Jonathan Drouin
    Drouin played his junior hockey with MacKinnon and will be looking to beat his old teammate.
  • Nail Yakupov
    After struggling under expectations due to being drafted first overall, Yakupov has  found a new home in Colorado and is having an effective season. 

Keys to Victory

  • Take control
    The Habs need to be in control of the game and not let the Avs force the play with their speed.
  • Be disciplined
    The Canadiens paid for bad penalties once again and continue to be undisciplined.
  • Shoot the puck
    Montreal players too often are guilty of looking for the perfect play, making too many passes.
Matchup by All Habs staff
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | January 23, 7:30 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ALT

2017-18 statistics
AVALANCHE CANADIENS
57 (10th) Points (rank) 44 (26th)
27-16-3 Record 19-22-6
9-9-2 Away/Home 11-9-5
10-0-0 Last 10 3-5-2
3.33 GF/G 2.51
2.85 GA/G 3.11
20.9 PP% 19.1
84.9 PK% 78.1
 48.32  CF%  51.19
 
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Landeskog – MacKinnon – Rantanen
Nieto – Soderberg – Comeau
Toninato – Kerfoot – Yakupov
Bourque – Compher – Jost		 Pacioretty – Byron – Hudon
Lehkonen – Plekanec – Gallagher
Galchenyuk – Drouin – Deslauriers
De La Rose – Froese – L. Shaw
Defensemen
Zadorov – Johnson
Nemeth – Barberio
Girard – Lidholm		 Alzner – Petry
Benn – Jerabek
Mete – Schlemko
Out of the lineup
Scratched: 
Injured: Kamenev, Barrie, Varlamov, Andrighetto, Jost		 Scratched: Morrow, Carr
Injured: Weber, Hemsky, Danault, A. Shaw
Goalies
Jonathan Bernier Carey Price
Record: 14-7-1
GAA: 2.58
Sv%: .920
SO: 2
Alternate: Andrew Hammond		 Record: 13-15-4
GAA: 2.95
Sv%: .908
SO: 1
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect
Prediction: Canadiens 3  Avalanche 4 

The Avs come into Montreal as the hottest team in the NHL, currently on a 10-game win streak. Their confidence is at all-time high which could be dangerous if they get on the board early. The Habs are well rested for the game and will have a lot motivation to put an end to the win streak. MacKinnon did not get on the score sheet on Monday night against the Leafs. He likely won’t be held pointless two games in a row.
Highlights from the NHL
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