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

By
Sam Gerber
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Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game: MTL 0  CAR  2   

The Canadiens were shutout once again and lacked a compete level all game. The second goal against had blown coverage by everyone on the ice and gave the Canes an easy one.

For a complete recap: Habs Shutout for 7th Time this Season

Players to watch

  • Nikita Scherbak
    Scherbak was recalled on Friday night and should give the Habs some much needed energy and offensive talent. Scherbak was fitting in well at the very beginning of the season before he got injured.
  • Ryan Kesler
    Kesler is a huge pain to play against and will give the Habs nightmares. He is dominant in the face-off circle and loves to stand in-front of the net.
  • Rickard Rakell
    Rakell has turned in the Ducks biggest offensive weapon and is about to reach his prime. His compete level on every play is a big part of why his line produces.

Keys to Victory

  • Win a face-off or two
    The Canadiens were embarrassed in the face-off circle last game and will be in tough again. The Ducks currently have four centers capable of playing in the top-6 that all are great in the dot.
  • Prepare to get physical
    The Ducks are big team that will try to come in to Montreal and push them out of the building. The Habs need to match their physicality and make them hard to play against.
  • Find the net
    The Canadiens need to put everything on the net and to take chances leading to odd man rushes.
Matchup by All Habs staff
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | February 3, 1:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, FS-W

2017-18 statistics
DUCKS CANADIENS
60 (15th) Points (rank) 46 (28th)
25-17-10 Record 20-25-6
11-8-7 Away/Home 12-10-5
6-3-1 Last 10 3-5-2
2.73 GF/G 2.51
2.67 GA/G 3.12
17.5 PP% 19.7
82.2 PK% 78.5
 47.49  CF%  51.09
eSAT Analytics by Mathieu Chagnon
 
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Rakell – Getzlaf – Silfverberg
Cogliano – Kesler – Brown
Ritchie – Henrique – Kase
Wagner – Vermette – Perry		 Pacioretty – Byron – Hudon
Galchenyuk – Drouin – Scherbak
Lehkonen – Plekanec – Gallagher
Deslauriers – Froese – L. Shaw
Defensemen
Fowler – Bieksa
Lindholm – Manson
Beauchemin – Montour		 Alzner – Petry
Mete – Schlemko
Morrow – Benn
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Holzer, Grant
Injured: Gibson, Eaves		 Scratched: Jerabek, Carr, De La Rose
Injured: Weber, Hemsky, Danault, A. Shaw
Goalies
Ryan Miller Antti Niemi
Record: 6-2-5
GAA: 2.19
Sv%: .928
SO: 2
Alternate: Reto Berra		 Record: 1-5-1
GAA: 4.44
Sv%: .869
SO: 0
Alternate: Carey Price
 What to Expect
Prediction: Canadiens 5  Ducks 3 

The Ducks are big team that uses their size to create energy and puck control. The Habs won’t be able to lift their foot off the gas all game and need to take it to Anaheim to shake them from their game plan. Niemi will be getting the start today after picking up his first win of the season against the Capitals.
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