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

By
Sam Gerber
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0
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Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game : MTL 3  DET 2     The Habs needed their role players to step up and they did. Both Gallagher and Petry did their job, Gallagher scoring in his office and Petry jumping up in the slot and making no mistake redeeming himself for a poor performance last game. Tatar stepped up as well and got the best of his former team setting up both goals. Niemi was strong in net, making 30 saves in the win.    

For a complete game recap: Tatar Leads Habs Over Wings

Players to watch

  • Jonathan Drouin
    There’s no sugar-coating it any longer, Drouin is playing a selfish game. The situation is getting so bad that even francophone commentators are turning on him. Drouin’s lazy effort caused TVA’s JC Lajoie to say that he would not touch Drouin if the Drouin-Mikhail Sergachev trade was revisted. Drouin needs to get hungrier at making a difference.
  • Joel Armia
    Armia scored in his fourth game back from injury. He showcased early in the season he has a scorers shot and if he can provide a much need offensive jump for the second half of the season the Canadiens could solidify their playoff position.     
  • Phillip Danault
    Danault has been playing good hockey of late but has not been as consistent as he’d like. After nine points in five games he has only managed one point in the following four games. For the Habs to do well this season they need Danault to be a lot more consistent..   

Keys to Victory

  • Use their speed
    The Habs can showcase their speed tonight against a slower Blues teams and they need to do just that.  
  • Get a fast start
    The Blues are having a bad season and a fast start for the Canadiens could put St. Louis in an uncomfortable but familiar position.
  • Win special teams
    The Canadiens special teams still need to figure things out, and will be a key for the second half of the season. 
Matchup by All Habs staff
Enterprise Center, St. Louis, MO | January 10, 8:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, FS-MW

2018-19 statistics
BLUES CANADIENS
38 (28th) Points (rank) 51 (13th)
17-20-4 Record 23-16-5
10-13-2 Home/Away 12-7-3
5-5-0 Last 10 6-4-0
2.78 GF/G 3.00
3.20 GA/G 3.07
19.0 PP% 12.6
79.3 PK% 78.3
50.16  CF%  54.15
 
 
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Schwartz – Schenn – Tarasenko
Sanford – O’Reilly – Perron
Fabbri – Thomas – Sundqvist 
Blais – Barbashev – MacEachern		 Drouin – Domi – Armia
Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Lehkonen – Kotkaniemi – Byron
Agostino – Chaput – Deslauriers
Defensemen
Gunnarsson – Pietrangelo
Bouwmeester – Parayko
Edmundson – Bortuzzo		 Mete – Weber
Alzner – Petry
   Kulak – Benn
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Maroon
Injured: Bozak, Steen, Dunn
 Scratched: Reilly, Hudon, Peca
Injured: Shaw
Goalies
Jordan Binnington Carey Price
Record: 1-0-0
GAA: – 1.86
Sv%: – .920
SO: 1
Alternate: Jake Allen		 Record: 16-12-4
GAA: – 2.71
Sv%: – .909
SO: 2
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
The Canadiens are going up against a desperate Blues team that find themselves near the bottom of the league. The Blues are easily frustrated and not only lack scoring but give up a lot goals. St. Louis has lost four of their last six games. If the Habs play with pace, and win the board battles they could pull off a convincing win. Carey Price will get the start tonight after coming off a great performance against the Wild.
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