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

By
Sam Gerber
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Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game : MTL 6  CAR 4    It wasn’t pretty. But the high-scoring game from the Canadiens was a nice response after getting blown out by the Wild the game before. Each line scored a goal for the Habs for the first time this season. Andrew Shaw continued his point streak and Jeff Petry scored twice. Carey Price made two dozen incredible saves carrying his team to victory for the second straight start.  

For a complete game recap: Price, Petry Lead Habs Over Canes

Players to watch

  • Jonathan Drouin
    The difference from last season to this season is night and day for Drouin. His offense is starting to show. Drouin remains one of the worst forwards defensively on the team but hopefully he will start to show a commitment to a 200-foot game soon.  
  • Brett Kulak
    The Kulak experiment as Shea’s partner has hit a wall the past two games. Noah Juulsen took over beside Weber last game as Kulak struggled. The issue only highlights Marc Bergevin’s failure to acquire a top left-handed defenceman this past summer.    
  • Phillip Danault
    Danault doesn’t have the hands or goal-scoring instinct to add much offensively. While the Habs brass hope that Danault will turn into a shut down forward, the numbers say quite the opposite.  

Keys to Victory

  • Win special teams
    The Habs special teams remain at the bottom of the league. Montreal went back to a two defencemen look on the power-play last game but have not yet seen any results. 
  • Control the gap
    The Canadiens defense needs to do a better job controlling the gap. With a boat load of fringe NHL defencemen on the roster, the Habs have often given too much space or not enough allowing opposition forwards to take advantage.
  • Get physical
    Montreal can play physical against a young and injury plagued Senators team.
Matchup by All Habs staff
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | December 15, 7:00 PM ET | TV: SN, TVAS

2018-19 statistics
SENATORS CANADIENS
32 (21st) Points (rank) 37 (14th)
14-15-4 Record 16-11-5
4-10-1 Away/Home 9-6-2
5-4-1 Last 10 5-4-1
3.33 GF/G 3.16
3.85 GA/G 3.28
22.1 PP% 12.7
73.4 PK% 76.2
42.92  CF%  53.98
eSAT Analytics by Mathieu Chagnon
 
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Tkachuk – White – Stone
Bodeker – Tierney – Ryan
Dzingel – Smith – Paajarvi
Paul – Batherson – 		 Drouin – Domi – Shaw
Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Byron – Kotkaniemi – Lehkonen
Agostino – Chaput – Peca
Defensemen
Chabot – Harpur
Lajoie – Ceci
Falk – Elliott
Burgdoerfer		 Kulak – Weber
Reilly – Petry
  Benn – Juulsen
Out of the lineup
Scratched: McCormick, Pyatt
Injured: Pageau, Borowiecki, Duchene, Jaros, DeMelo
 Scratched: Hudon, Deslauriers, Schlemko
Injured: Armia
Goalies
Mike McKenna Carey Price
Record: 1-1-1
GAA: – 3.97
Sv%: – .899
SO: 0
Alternate: Craig Anderson		 Record: 12-8-4
GAA: – 2.93
Sv%: – .902
SO: 1
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
This will be the fourth and final game this season between the Canadiens and the Senators. Matt Duchene was injured against the Habs about a week ago and is still out. It’s a big loss for the Sens as Duchene was having a great season. For the Habs, Joel Armia is the only injured player with Noah Juulsen returning this week. Tonight’s game is important one for the Habs, their second last home match of the calendar year. 
Highlights from the NHL
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