GAME DAY | Canadiens – Lightning: 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 0  FLA 5  

The Panthers controlled the entire game and the few chances the Habs had didn’t go their way. Frustration has got to the players and will only get worse as the games go on.

For a complete recap: Habs Shutout, Again

Players to watch

  • Jonathan Drouin
    Drouin has had a dreadful season. His attitude and effort level have been terrible for the past few months. Drouin needs to step up and finally have a positive effect on the game for the Habs.
  • Ryan McDonagh
    McDonagh will play his first game with the Lightning after recovering from a hand injury. McDonagh often plays well against his former team and will make it even harder for the Canadiens to score.
  • Brendan Gallagher
    While Gallagher has had a good season, even he has struggled the past few games and has started to show his frustration. Recently announced that he’s not 100 per cent healthy.

Keys to Victory

  • Get physical
    Montreal needs to punish the Bolts players on the forecheck and in their own zone to let them know it won’t be an easy two points.
  • Win special teams
    The game will be over quick if the Canadiens get into penalty trouble.
  • Keep it close
    The Canadiens have given no help to their goaltender the past two games. With a potent Tampa offense, the Habs must do their best to limit opportunities.
Matchup by All Habs staff
Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL | March 10, 1:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, SUN

2017-18 statistics
LIGHTNING CANADIENS
98 (1st) Points (rank) 61 (27th)
47-17-4 Record 25-31-11
24-6-2 Home/Away 9-21-3
8-1-1 Last 10 3-3-4
3.60 GF/G 2.52
2.75 GA/G 3.07
23.8 PP% 19.8
77.7 PK% 76.3
 51.32  CF%  51.02
eSAT Analytics by Mathieu Chagnon
 
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Stamkos – Johnson – Kucherov
Gourde – Point – J.T. Miller
Killorn – Cirelli – Erne
Callahan – Paquette – Kunitz		 Byron – Drouin – Gallagher
Galchenyuk – De La Rose – Hudon
Lehkonen – Danault – A. Shaw
Deslauriers – Froese – Carr
Defensemen
Hedman – Dotchin
Sergachev – Stralman
McDonagh – Girardi		 Reilly – Petry
Alzner – Juulsen
Benn – Lernout
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Sustr, Coburn, Conacher, Koekkoek
Injured: Palat
 Scratched: L. Shaw, Scherbak
Injured: Weber, Hemsky, Price, Pacioretty, Mete, Schlemko, Valiev
Goalies
Louis Domingue Antti Niemi
Record: 4-8-0
GAA: 3.81
Sv%: .881
SO: 0
Alternate: Andrei Vasilevskiy		 Record: 4-6-3
GAA: 3.40
Sv%: .902
SO: 0
Alternate: Charlie Lindgren
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
Prediction: Canadiens 1  Lightning 4 

Afternoon games can be an adjustment and often, one team looks behind the other. After back-to-back losses giving up at least five goals, the Canadiens will be focusing on their defensive game.  
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