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

By
Sam Gerber
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Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game: MTL 5  CAR  6   

The Habs abandoned the defensive part of their game and paid for it dearly. It was a surprising high scoring game where both teams did not play their best. The quick responses by the Hurricanes after giving up goals was the difference maker.

For a complete recap: Habs Defenceless Against Canes

Players to watch

  • Brayden Schenn
    Fresh off his All-Star weekend, Schenn is having a career season with the Blues and will cause headaches for the Canadiens.
  • Vladimir Tarasenko
    Tarasenko is one the leagues elite snipers and is capable of creating something out of nothing.
  • Victor Mete
    Mete may not be putting up the points but his mobility, speed and instinct helps the Habs at all ends of the ice. The points will start to come as he becomes even more comfortable in the NHL.

Keys to Victory

  • Be prepared
    The Canadiens have failed to be ready numerous times and let winnable games get away.
  • Play sound defensive hockey
    The Habs need to play much better in their own zone after giving up six goals last game.
  • Give consistent effort
    The effort level needs to be consistently strong for the full 20 minutes of each period and for all three periods.
Matchup by All Habs staff
Scottrade Center, St. Louis, MO | January 30, 8:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, FS-MW

2017-18 statistics
BLUES CANADIENS
63 (7th) Points (rank) 46 (26th)
30-18-3 Record 20-23-6
17-10-0 Home/Away 8-13-1
6-3-1 Last 10 4-4-2
2.84 GF/G 2.59
2.55 GA/G 3.14
16.2 PP% 19.6
82.3 PK% 78.3
 51.31  CF%  51.16
 
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Barbashev – Stastny – Tarasenko
Schwartz – Schenn – Steen
Sobotka – Berglund – Thompson
Upshall – Brodziak – Jaskin		 Pacioretty – Byron – Hudon
Galchenyuk – Drouin – Deslauriers
Lehkonen – Plekanec – Gallagher
De La Rose – Froese – L. Shaw
Defensemen
Edmundson – Pietrangelo
Bouwmeester – Parayko
Dunn – Bortuzzo		 Alzner – Petry
Mete – Schlemko
Morrow – Jerabek
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Gunnarsson, Sundqvist, Thorburn
Injured: Sanford		 Scratched: Benn, Carr
Injured: Weber, Hemsky, Danault, A. Shaw
Goalies
Carter Hutton Carey Price
Record: 12-4-1
GAA: 1.74
Sv%: .943
SO: 2
Alternate: Jake Allen		 Record: 14-16-4
GAA: 2.93
Sv%: .908
SO: 1
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect
Prediction: Canadiens 2  Blues 4 

St. Louis has ten more wins than the Canadiens this season and are capable of scoring in bunches. The Habs will need to come out strong against the Blues and compete for a full 60 minutes to have the best chance at a win.
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