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

Game Preview

Last game : MTL 3 BUF 1 F The Habs had a slow start to this one but with a second period burst they took advantage of the Sabres backup goaltender.

For a complete game recap: Habs Ride Second Period Surge

Players to watch

Max Domi
Domi has been AWOL for quite some time again. Domi did not score a goal and had just four assists in the month of January.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
To boost the playoff chances of the Laval Rocket, Kotkaniemi has been sent to the AHL for the first time in his pro career. He has looked good since returning from injury but managed just one goal in January.
Carey Price
Prior to today’s game, Price will be presented with the Molson Cup for January. That is the third month in a row that Price has earned the trophy. During the month Price posted a 2.09 goals against average and a .934 save percentage.

Keys to Victory

Shut down top line
Florida’s top line of Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau and Evgenii Dadonov has accounted for 31 percent of the Panthers’ goals this season.
Play tight D
Riding a six game winning streak, the Panthers have scored at least four goals in each of those wins. The Habs will need a concerted effort to limit scoring chances.
Prevent secondary scoring
In addition to the top line, the Habs will have to defend well against the secondary Florida scorers. On the third line, Frank Vatrano and Mike Hoffman have been contributing to the offence during the Panthers’ winning streak.

Statistical Matchup by All Habs
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC \| February 1, 2:00 PM ET \| TV: TSN2, RDS, FS-F
	2019-20 statistics
PANTHERS	2019-20 statistics	CANADIENS
61 (10th)	Points (rank)	53 (22nd)
28-16-5	Record	23-22-7
12-8-3	Away/Home	10-13-4
8-2-0	Last 10	5-5-0
3.67	GF/G	3.02
3.27	GA/G	3.10
24.5	PP%	20.0
78.1	PK%	78.4
50.20	CF%	53.67

Pre-game quotes
Ilya Kovalchuk “The coach gave me the opportunity to play the role I always played, and it’s easier for me to do than what I did [with the Los Angeles Kings], so that’s the difference.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders by All Habs
Forwards
Huberdeau – Barkov – Dadonov Connolly – Trocheck – Acciari Vatrano – Toninato – Hoffman Sceviour – Boyle – Hawryluk	Tatar – Danault – Gallagher Kovalchuk – Suzuki – Armia Lehkonen – Domi – Weal Cousins – Thompson – Weise
Defensemen
Matheson – Ekblad Stillman – Stralman Yandle – Brown	Chiarot – Weber Kulak – Petry Scandella – Mete
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Malgin, Pysyk Injured: Weegar, Driedger	Scratched: Poehling Injured: Drouin, Byron
Goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky	Carey Price

Record: 19-12-4 GAA: – 3.24 Sv%: – .898 SO: 1 Alternate: Samuel Montembeault	Record: 21-17-4 GAA: – 2.80 Sv%: – .909 SO: 2 Alternate: Charlie Lindgren

What to Expect

It’s Super Bowl weekend which means that the Canadiens will host back-to-back matinees at the Bell Centre. First up is the Florida Panthers who will be looking to win their seventh consecutive game powered by a potent offence.

Quick Links from Rocket Sports Media publications

Tickets


Get Habs Tickets
Need tickets for an upcoming Canadiens game? Click the following link for the best prices on available tickets: Montreal Canadiens Tickets

Follow @AllHabs on Twitter

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

2019-20 statistics