GAME PREVIEW | Panthers – Canadiens: Habs Focus on One Game at a Time

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

Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game : MTL 1  CAR 2 (OT)   Carey Price had a world class night stopping 38 shots. Unfortunately the rest of the Canadiens didn’t show up and were thoroughly dominated by Carolina. The Habs could only generate one goal which spoiled a great individual night for Price. The Canes totally swarmed Montreal in the first and third periods and overtime.  

For a complete game recap: Price, Armia, Weal Star in Impressive Win for Habs

Players to watch

  • Phillip Danault
    Danault has lost his place with the arrival of Nate Thompson. He will have to adjust and take advantage of his opportunities.
  • Max Domi
    Domi has had an up and down season but seems to be rejuvenated by linemates Artturi Lehkonen and Andrew Shaw. 
  • Jonathan Drouin
    Drouin’s turnovers in the offensive zone and lack of effort defensively have been very costly. Despite his reduced icetime the message doesn’t seem to have been received by Drouin. 

Keys to Victory

  • Limit turnovers
    The Canadiens must eliminate costly turnovers in these final regular season games.
  • Play with energy
    With Florida playing last night Montreal should play with energy overwhelming the Panthers from the start.
  • Win special teams
    The Panthers have one of the best power-plays in the league and will embarrass the Habs if it becomes a special-teams battle.
Statistical Matchup by All Habs staff
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | March 26, 7:30 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, FS-F, ESPN+

2018-19 statistics
PANTHERS CANADIENS
78 (21st) Points (rank) 88 (14th)
33-31-12 Record 40-28-8
14-18-6 Away/Home 22-12-4
5-5-0 Last 10 5-4-1
3.22 GF/G 2.96
3.37 GA/G 2.88
27.3 PP% 12.6
80.3 PK% 80.8
49.74  CF%  54.00
Pre-game quote
Brendan Gallagher

  • “We’ve just been going out and enjoying playing these meaningful games, and it’s a lot of fun when you’re winning and the two kind of go hand in hand.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Huberdeau – Barkov – Dadonov
Hoffman – Trocheck – Hawryluk
Vatrano – Sheahan – Malgin
McGinn – Borgstrom – Brouwer 		 Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Lehkonen – Domi – Shaw
Drouin – Kotkaniemi – Armia
Byron – Thompson – Weal
Defensemen
 Matheson – Ekblad
Yandle – Weegar
McCoshen – Brown		 Mete – Weber
Kulak – Petry
   Benn – Folin
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Hunt, Keeper, Scevious, Pysyk, Luongo
Injured: MacKenzie
 Scratched: Reilly, Hudon, Deslauriers, Peca, Weise, Lindgren
Injured: none
Goalies
James Reimer Carey Price
Record: 13-11-5
GAA: – 3.02
Sv%: – .902
SO: 0
Alternate: Samuel Montembeault		 Record: 32-22-6
GAA: – 2.51
Sv%: – .917
SO: 4
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
The Panthers played last night and were shelled by the Leafs. They are at the brink of elimination but the Habs need to be focused. Focus won’t come easy, with the biggest game of the season on Thursday the Canadiens have to get the job done first against Florida in a game they should win. The Panthers will have some motivation being able to play spoilers against the Habs. Montreal’s offense will have to be impactful and find the back of the net. Price can only do so much and it is time the players give him some much needed goal support. 
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