GAME PREVIEW | Canadiens – Oilers: Habs Looking for Third Straight Road Win

By
Sam Gerber
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GAME DAY | Montreal Canadiens vs Edmonton Oilers: Preview, TV,  Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Habs Tickets

Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game : MTL 4  CGY 3  F/OT   Brendan Gallagher got the Habs going after they had fallen behind by two goals in the first period. Joel Armia got a goal with a quick release in the slot. Suzuki tied the game with a perfect deflection that took the game to overtime. Carey Price continued his hot start to December making a number of key saves including one point blank chance in the overtime which sprung Max Domi who blasted his first goal since November 23rd.

For a complete game recap: Habs Young Players Shine in OT Win

Players to watch

  • Max Domi
    Domi was buzzing last game and it was only a matter of time until he scored. Hopefully his goal sparks more and he starts filling the net more often.
  • Jeff Petry
    Petry hasn’t looked 100 percent over the last month and didn’t have the best game against Calgary. His confidence looks a little shaken.
  • Carey Price
    Price has been playing great all of December and the Habs will need him to be at his best playing against two of the best scorers in the entire league.  

Keys to Victory

  • Control gaps
    The Habs defense have to be very smart about their gap control, Connor McDavid can explode any second and if the Habs aren’t ready he’ll make them pay.
  • Contain the top six
    The Oilers lack a lot of depth scoring but have a lot of fire power on their top lines. If the Habs can shut down Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid the Habs should be able to pull out a win.
  • Score first
    The Habs have fallen behind early lately yet they’ve been winning games. It’s not perfect and it’s not going to last the Habs need to play with the lead.
Statistical Matchup by All Habs
Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB | December 21, 7:00 PM ET | TV: CITY, SNE, SNW, SNP, TVAS

2019-20 statistics
OILERS CANADIENS
42 (13th) Points (rank) 36 (19th)
19-15-4 Record 17-12-6
8-7-3 Home/Away 9-4-3
3-6-1 Last 10 6-3-1
2.87 GF/G 3.14
3.05 GA/G 3.14
29.8 PP% 21.2
84.3 PK% 75.2
47.62  CF% 53.74
Pre-game quotes
Max Domi

  • “It feels like it’s at home in Montreal at the Bell Centre every night here in Western Canada, we all love coming out here. Even before playing for the Habs, I loved coming out to Western Canada. There are some passionate hockey fans out here and great hockey teams now too. I think Canada has a lot of good hockey to cheer for, which its great and they have a lot of talent too, so it’s fun to play against these teams. I’m looking forward to playing against Edmonton.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders by All Habs
Forwards
Nugent-Hopkins – McDavid – Kassian
Neal – Draisaitl – Gagner
Nygard – Haas – Chiasson
Khaira – Sheahan – Archibald		 Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Lehkonen – Domi – Armia
Cousins – Suzuki – Weal
Poehling – Thompson – Barber
Defensemen
Klefbom – Larsson
Nurse – Bear
Russell – Jones		 Chiarot – Weber
Kulak – Petry
Reilly – Fleury
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Manning, Russell, Granlund
Injured: Benning
 Scratched: Vejdemo, Folin
Injured: Drouin, Byron, Mete, Peca, Kotkaniemi
Goalies
Mikko Koskinen Carey Price
Record: 12-6-2
GAA: – 2.62
Sv%: – .919
SO: 1
Alternate: Mike Smith		 Record: 15-10-3
GAA: – 2.84
Sv%: – .907
SO: 1
Alternate: Charlie Lindgren
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
The Habs are perfect on the road trip so far winning their last two. The Oilers have lost their last two and have only won thee games in their last 10. The Habs have to be careful knowing when Connor McDavid is on the ice and make sure they get the right defense pair out. If the Habs are ready from the start it should be a good game that’s back and forth. 
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