GAME DAY | Penguins – Canadiens: Preview, TV, Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Tickets

Game Preview by Sam Gerber

Last game : MTL 4 NYR 2 Joel Armia had a coming out party, scoring a hat-trick, the third three goal game by a Habs player in a little over a week. The Canadiens scoring started by Brendan Gallagher who drove hard to the net and deflected a perfect pass by Tomas Tatar over the shoulder of Henrik Lundqvist. The goal woke up Montreal and their energy went straight to their legs. Armia jumped on a lucky bounce to get his first of the game then he drove hard to the net protecting the puck out muscling his defender and scoring short side. It was a power move by Armia who has found his scoring touch of late. He added in an empty netter to get the hat-trick.

For a complete game recap: Armia Scores Natural Hat Trick

Players to watch

Jonathan Drouin
This should be a tailor made game for Drouin. Let’s see if he can be a difference maker on his bobble head night.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
Kotkaniemi has been great all year but this is a game where he is going to be challenged, going up against Malkin and Crosby. It’s no easy task as he will be forced to rise to the challenge.
Shea Weber
Weber has looked fatigued of late but he has been his normal self the last few games. Obviously he’ll be leaned on tonight as this game is too important to not have him play his best.

Keys to Victory

Be aggressive
The Habs have to be the more aggressive team. The Penguins defense is injured and the Canadiens have to be relentless on the fore-check and have them play in their end.
Play strong in the middle
The Penguins have two of the greatest centers in the league and the Habs have to not only match them but be able to beat them.
Stay out of the box
The Canadiens special teams haven’t been great all year but if they can turn it around before the playoffs and be the reason they win some tight games it will be the reason they make the playoffs.

Statistical Matchup by All Habs staff
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC \| March 2, 7:00 PM ET \| TV: SN360, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS, ATTSN-PT
	2018-19 statistics
PENGUINS	2018-19 statistics	CANADIENS
75 (13th)	Points (rank)	77 (10th)
33-22-9	Record	35-23-7
16-10-7	Away/Home	19-10-4
5-3-2	Last 10	4-5-1
3.44	GF/G	3.05
3.11	GA/G	2.89
25.0	PP%	12.6
79.8	PK%	80.3
49.28	CF%	53.91

Pre-game quote
Joel Armia “I think we have to be more confident every night to get some success. We can’t think about a loss or a bad play or anything, we have to be positive and comfortable playing in tight situations.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Guentzel – Crosby – Hornqvist Aston-Reece – Malkin – Kessel McCann – Bjustad – Simon Wilson – Cullen – Blueger	Tatar – Danault – Gallagher Drouin – Domi – Shaw Byron – Kotkaniemi – Armia Lehkonen – Thompson – Weise
Defensemen
Johnson – Schultz Pettersson – Gudbranson Riikola – Trotman	Mete – Weber Benn – Petry Kulak – Folin
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Injured: Maatta, Letang, Dumoulin, Rust, Ruhwedel	Scratched: Reilly, Hudon, Deslauriers, Peca, Weal Injured: none
Goalies
Casey DeSmith	Carey Price

Record: 14-11-5 GAA: – 2.86 Sv%: – .914 SO: 2 Alternate: Matt Murray	Record: 27-18-5 GAA: – 2.51 Sv%: – .918 SO: 3 Alternate: Antti Niemi

What to Expect by Sam Gerber

Both teams played last night, while the Habs won, the Pens lost in overtime. With a four-point swing tonight both teams need these points and it could end up be a deciding game on which team makes the playoffs. Phillip Danault will be key player for the Habs, he will have the task to shutdown Sydney Crosby while still generating offence of his own. The center match-ups all night will be watched closely, the Habs do have last change which should benefit them greatly. On October 10^th, 2007 Carey Price made his debut and got his first win against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tonight Price has the chance to tie Jacques Plante for the most wins by a Habs goalie against the team it all started against. The Habs have to give it their all to make sure that happens for their best player.

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GAME DAY | Penguins – Canadiens: Preview, TV, Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Tickets

2018-19 statistics