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

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Sam Gerber
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Game Preview by Sam Gerber, Staff Writer
Last game: MTL 1  CBJ 2 (OT) 

The Canadiens came away with one point, but had the opportunity for two. Charlie Lindgren and Paul Byron were the Habs best players once again but were not enough to stop the Blue Jackets.

For a complete recap: Habs Struggle to Generate Offence

Players to watch

  • Nicolas Deslauriers
    Deslauriers will be playing his first game for the Habs this season. He won’t offer much offensively but expect Deslauriers to finish his checks tonight. His effort level with the Rocket has been questionable this season but he would be wise to make  simple plays and make the most of each shift in this game.
  • Oliver Ekman-Larsson 
    Ekman-Larsson is an elite NHL defenseman that who is especially dangerous running the power-play. The Habs can’t let him control the play or he will find an open man  with ease.
  •  Jonathan Drouin
    After struggling against the Blue Jackets, this is great opportunity for Drouin to deliver a statement game. Playing against the worst team in the league, Drouin will have better matchups this game and will need to take advantage of them.

Keys to Victory

  • Don’t hestitate
    The Canadiens have been very passive with the puck and are hanging on to it a little more than they should be.
  • Retrieve the puck
    The Coyotes are weak defensively. If the Habs are aggressive on the forecheck they will create turnovers. 
  • Don’t count your chickens
    The Coyote’s may be at the bottom of the league, but the Habs should not underestimate them thinking that this will be an easy win.
Matchup 
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | November 16, 7:30 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, FS-A

2017-18 statistics
COYOTES CANADIENS
7 (31st) Points (rank) 18 (25th)
2-15-3 Record 8-9-2
1-9-2 Away/Home 4-3-2
2-6-2 Last 10 6-3-1
2.25 GF/G 2.42
3.90 GA/G 3.32
13.6 PP% 15.9
76.8 PK% 75.8
 48.15  CF%  53.46
 
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Perlini – Stepan – Rieder
Keller – Richardson – Fischer
Domi – Dvorak – Rinaldo
Martinook – Kempe – Duclair		 Galchenyuk – Drouin – Byron
Pacioretty – Danault – Shaw
Hudon – Plekanec – Gallagher 
Deslauriers – De La Rose – Froese
Defensemen
Ekman-Larsson – Connauton
Goligoski – Demers
Hanley – Schenn		 Benn – Weber
Alzner – Petry
Mete – Morrow
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Cousins
Injured: Chychrun, Hjalmarsson		 Scratched: Davidson, Mitchell
Injured: Hemsky, Schlemko, Scherbak, Price, Montoya, Lehkonen
Goalies
Antti Raanta Charlie Lindgren
Record: 1-5-2
GAA: 3.16
Sv%: .905
SO: 0
Alternate: Scott Wedgewood		 Record: 3-1-1
GAA: 1.39
Sv%: .957
SO: 1
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect
Drouin should rebound from last game and his chemistry with Galchenyuk will finally turn into points. A quick start will really help the Habs as their confidence is fragile once again.

Prediction: Canadiens 5  Coyotes 1 

If the Habs let the Coyotes stick around in the game they will definitely pay for it.
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