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 4  DET 2  

Gallagher reached the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career, and scored two power-play goals to lead the way for the Habs. Price is starting to look more like his old self and made 26 saves for the win.

For a complete recap: Gallagher Reaches 30

Players to watch

  • Sidney Crosby
    Crosby has been dazzling the NHL with has hand-eye coordination the past couple of weeks. After scoring an incredible goal against the Canadiens last time can Crosby do it again? 
  • Paul Byron
    Byron made some strong comments to the media which may have not been very popular with his teammates. It has been a frustrating year but did he need to publicly toss his mates under the bus? Byron will need to back up his words with his play on the ice.
  • David Schlemko
    Schlemko will return to the lineup on the top pairing after recovering from injury. Mike Reilly will head to the press box due to his dreadful play in his own zone.

Keys to Victory

  • Get out to a quick start
    Having had a few days off, the Canadiens have no reason not to have the energy to get off to a great start. An early goal could be big. 
  • Use your speed
    The Habs should use their quickness to press the Penguins defense.
  • Move the puck
    The Habs breakout is too textbook and the Pens took advantage of that the last two games.
Matchup by All Habs staff
PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA | March 31, 7:00 PM ET | TV: SN360, TVAS, ATTSN-PT, NHLN

2017-18 statistics
PENGUINS CANADIENS
94 (10th) Points (rank) 68 (27th)
44-28-6 Record 28-37-12
28-8-2 Home/Away 10-24-4
5-3-2 Last 10 3-6-1
3.27 GF/G 2.52
3.06 GA/G 3.10
25.7 PP% 20.9
79.8 PK% 74.5
 52.33  CF%  50.29
eSAT Analytics by Mathieu Chagnon
 
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Guentzel – Crosby – Rust
Hagelin – Malkin – Kessel
Sheary- Sheahan – Hornqvist
Kuhnhackl – Jooris – Aston-Reese		 Byron – Drouin – Gallagher
Galchenyuk – De La Rose – Lehkonen
Scherbak – L. Shaw – Hudon
Deslauriers – McCarron – Carr
Defensemen
Dumoulin – Letang
Maatta – Schultz
Hunwick – Oleksiak		 Schlemko – Petry
Alzner – Juulsen
Benn – Lernout
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Ruhwedel
Injured: Brassard, Rowney 
 Scratched: Froese, Reilly, Rychel
Injured: Weber, Hemsky, Pacioretty, Mete, Valiev, Danault, A. Shaw
Goalies
Matt Murray Antti Niemi
Record: 25-15-3
GAA: 2.91
Sv%: .907
SO: 1
Alternate: Casey DeSmith		 Record: 6-8-4
GAA: 3.02
Sv%: .915
SO: 1
Alternate: Carey Price
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
Prediction: Canadiens 2  Penguins 4 

The Habs will continue to test their younger players, so expect some mistakes. The veteran line-up of the Penguins should handle the Habs pretty easily but this test will go a long way in the development for the Habs youth.
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