GAME DAY | Canadiens – Penguins: 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 2  

Jacob De La Rose answered back quickly for the Canadiens after they gave up the first goal, unfortunately it was overturned due to offside. The Habs were unable to generate much offense after that handing a victory to a desperate Panther team making a run for the playoffs.

For a complete recap: Habs Shutout for Team-Record 12th Time

Players to watch

  • Carey Price
    Claude Julien claims that Price is 100 percent healthy. Price is a competitor and wants to be playing. His presence on the ice and in the dressing room should do wonders for his team.
  • Brett Lernout
    Lernout is making the best of his opportunity playing solidly and bringing needed physicality to the Habs back end. That should put him in good position to make the team next season.
  • Patric Hornqvist
    Hornqvist was a big factor the last time these two teams met. Expect him to be dangerous again.

Keys to Victory

  • Be disciplined on defense
    The Habs defense should not relax just because Carey Price is back in goal. And they must clear the crease sending a message that no one is allowed to touch their franchise player. 
  • Play with energy
    Montreal should play with tempo taking advantage of a Penguins team that played on Tuesday night.
  • Don’t tense up
    Without the pressure of a playoff run, the Canadiens can focus on playing their best hockey and set a good tone in moving on to next season.
Matchup by All Habs staff
PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA | March 21, 7:00 PM ET | TV: SN, RDS, ATTSN-PT

2017-18 statistics
PENGUINS CANADIENS
87 (11th) Points (rank) 64 (27th)
41-27-5 Record 26-35-12
26-8-1 Home/Away 9-23-4
5-4-1 Last 10 2-6-2
3.23 GF/G 2.47
3.01 GA/G 3.10
25.7 PP% 20.5
80.3 PK% 75.2
 52.12  CF%  50.50
eSAT Analytics by Mathieu Chagnon
 
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Guentzel – Crosby – Rust
Hagelin – Malkin – Hornqvist
Sheary- Brassard – Kessel
Kuhnhackl – Sheahan – Jooris		 Byron – Drouin – Gallagher
Galchenyuk – De La Rose – Lehkonen
Scherbak – L. Shaw – Carr
Deslauriers – McCarron – Hudon
Defensemen
Dumoulin – Letang
Oleksiak – Schultz
Maatta – Ruhwedel		 Reilly – Petry
Alzner – Juulsen
Benn – Lernout
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Hunwick 
Injured: Simon, Aston-Reese, Rowney 
 Scratched: Froese
Injured: Weber, Hemsky, Pacioretty, Mete, Schlemko, Valiev, Danault, A. Shaw
Goalies
Casey DeSmith Carey Price
Record: 4-4-1
GAA: 2.58
Sv%: .914
SO: 0
Alternate: Matt Murray		 Record: 15-22-6
GAA: 2.98
Sv%: .904
SO: 1
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
Prediction: Canadiens 2  Penguins 0 

Carey Price’s name will be said over 100 times during the broadcast as it should be. The Canadiens brass made the decision not to shut him down for the rest of the season despite their position in the standings. I have no doubt that Price will have a strong effort against the Pens.
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