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

By
Sam Gerber
-
0
38

 

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

Only Carey Price showed up for the Habs in what was a disappointing loss. The game meant a lot for the Canadiens head coach Julien who told the media they should be directing pointed questions at players.

For a complete recap: Team Of One Is Not Enough

Players to watch

  • Logan Shaw
    With Andrew Shaw out of the lineup with a lower-body injury, Logan Shaw will make his Canadiens debut after being plucked from waivers.  L. Shaw is a big body who can finish his checks and help create energy.
  • Jonathan Drouin
    Moving Drouin to the wing lasted less than a period and a half against the Bruins. Tonight Drouin will be back at centre between Alex Galchenyuk and mucker, Nicolas Deslauriers. We’ll see how long this arrangement lasts.
  • Alex Ovechkin
    Ovechkin has bought into the system becoming a bigger team player and is an even more dangerous threat.

Keys to Victory

  • Improve possession
    The Canadiens must do a better job controlling the puck than they did against the Bruins.
  • Need a solid effort
    Montreal was guilty of a lack of effort in their last game. They must be better against the Capitals.
  • Create puck luck
    All the effort in the world might not be enough against the Caps. But with a solid effort, the Habs can create a lucky bounce or two.
Matchup by All Habs staff
Capital One Arena, Washington, DC | January 19, 7:30 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, NBCSWA

2017-18 statistics
CAPITALS CANADIENS
60 (5th) Points (rank) 42 (28th)
28-14-4 Record 18-21-6
18-6-0 Home/Away 7-13-1
6-2-2 Last 10 2-6-2
3.04 GF/G 2.53
2.83 GA/G 3.11
18.9 PP% 19.1
79.5 PK% 77.9
 48.20  CF%  51.26
 
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Ovechkin – Backstrom – Burakovsky
Vrana – Kuznetsov – Wilson
Connolly – Eller – Oshie
Stephenson – Beagle – Chiasson		 Pacioretty – Byron – Hudon
Galchenyuk – Drouin – Deslauriers
Lehkonen – Plekanec – Gallagher 
De La Rose – Froese – L. Shaw
Defensemen
Orlov – Niskanen
Djoos – Carlson
Orpik – Bowey		 Alzner – Petry
Benn – Jerabek
Mete – Schlemko
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Chorney, Smith-Pelly
Injured: None		 Scratched: Morrow, Carr
Injured: Weber, Hemsky, Danault, A. Shaw
Goalies
Philipp Grubauer Antti Niemi
Record: 4-5-3
GAA: 2.60
Sv%: .916
SO: 1
Alternate: Braden Holtby		 Record: 0-5-1
GAA: 4.85
Sv%: .862
SO: 0
Alternate: Carey Price
 What to Expect
Prediction: Canadiens 3  Capitals 2 

After a demoralizing loss the Habs players are at rock bottom and the coaching staff has no answers. The Capitals are poised to pounce but are on their second of a back-to-back.
Highlights from the NHL
Quick Links from Rocket Sports Media publications
[wp_rss_multi_importer category=”3″ thisfeed=”8″ showdate=”0″]
 
 
Habs360-sm-06 [wp_rss_multi_importer category=”6″ showdate=”0″]
 
Tickets
   
   
Get Habs Tickets  
  • Need tickets for an upcoming Canadiens game? Click the following link for the best prices on available tickets: Montreal Canadiens Tickets
 download

Follow @AllHabs on Twitter

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR