GAME PREVIEW | Canadiens – Red Wings: Habs Looking to Retain Playoff Spot

By
Sam Gerber
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GAME DAY | Canadiens – Red Wings: Preview, TV,  Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Tickets

Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game : MTL 1  NJD 2    The Canadiens played poorly and were clearly not focused or ready to play. The Devils fourth line managed to do some damage while the Habs fourth line continues to be ineffective. The Montreal offense barely showed up with  perimeter shots most of the game. The Habs have to turn it around quickly, go to the dirty areas, get physical and start crashing the net. 

For a complete game recap: Habs Come Out Flat in Newark

Players to watch

  • Antti Niemi
    Niemi will get the start and needs to make it count. With very few quality starts (only four) this season, Niemi is playing to secure a contract for next season (which likely won’t come from the Habs.)
  • Brendan Gallagher
    The Habs need Gallagher to make a difference. If he isn’t involved in a game it affects the rest of the team.    
  • Shea Weber
    Weber and Mete struggled on Monday night and need to step up. Without a top-pairing defensive partner, it has been a very heavy burden on Weber. He just may be fatigued. But Claude Julien refused to say if Weber is injured.

Keys to Victory

  • Rebound 
    Montreal played terribly last night and need rebound. The Habs must answer for how they have played over the last few games.
  • Play with energy
    The Canadiens have to play with energy. They’ve stopped playing their game for a full sixty minutes.
  • Stay out of the box
    The Habs took six minor penalties on Monday disrupting the flow of the game. They should be more disciplined so they can play five-on-five.
Statistical Matchup by All Habs staff
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI | February 26, 7:30 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, FS-D

2018-19 statistics
RED WINGS CANADIENS
55 (29th) Points (rank) 73 (11th)
23-31-9 Record 33-23-7
12-16-5 Home/Away 14-13-3
2-6-2 Last 10 4-5-1
2.78 GF/G 2.95
3.29 GA/G 2.94
16.6 PP% 12.7
77.5 PK% 79.6
48.35  CF%  53.89
Pre-game quote
Max Domi

  • “We’ve got to be better – it is as simple as that. We’ve got to find a way to score goals and defend a little bit better. That’s as a whole, from top to bottom.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Mantha – Larkin – Helm
Bertuzzi – Athanasiou – Zadina
 Glendening – Nielsen – Rasmussen
Abdelkader – De La Rose – Witkowski		 Drouin – Danault – Gallagher
Tatar – Domi – Shaw
Byron – Kotkaniemi – Armia
Lehkonen – Thompson – Weise
Defensemen
 Kronwall – Green
Dekeyser – Hronek
Bowey – Daley		 Mete – Weber
Folin – Petry
   Kulak – Benn
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Ericsson
Injured: Svechnikov, Vanek
 Scratched: Reilly, Hudon, Deslauriers, Peca, Weal
Injured: none
Goalies
Jimmy Howard Carey Price
Record: 17-16-5
GAA: – 2.88
Sv%: – .910
SO: 0
Alternate: Jonathan Bernier		 Record: 25-18-5
GAA: – 2.55
Sv%: – .916
SO: 3
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
Trade Deadline Day has come and gone and the Habs are the same team as they were. Jordan Weal was the only addition to the roster. The Habs staff believe the next true test for the young team is to play playoff hockey and to rely on Carey Price as they have been doing since the end of November. The Habs have not been themselves lately, going 4-5-1 in their last ten games but with nineteen games remaining and hanging onto a wild card spot the Habs can only blame themselves. 
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Tickets
   
   
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