GAME PREVIEW | Red Wings – Canadiens: Habs Fighting for a Playoff Spot

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

Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game : MTL 2  ANA 8    The Canadiens were embarrassed and learned a valuable lesson. It doesn’t matter who you play in this league, if you are not ready to play, you will lose and lose badly. This is exactly what happened to the Habs. They have to be able to rebound from it but they can’t forget the feeling of this loss.

For a complete game recap: Poor Habs Effort Tightens Playoff Race

Players to watch

  • Carey Price
    It is important that the Canadiens lighten the load of Carey Price and give Charlie Lindgren opportunities prior to the playoffs.
  • Jonathan Drouin
    The Habs need to Drouin to be a game changer but it is yet to happen all season. Drouin is in the midst of another long offensive drought and his defensive game has been non-existent. It is time to send a message to Drouin and hope that it motivates to be the best player he can be.
  • Phillip Danault
    The Canadiens are trying to groom Danault as a two-way center all season but it is still a work in progress, Danault is being beaten due to his lack of size and strength. Danault needs to improve his read of the play and positioning to compensate. 

Keys to Victory

  • Use speed
    The Canadiens need to use their speed all game, They have to put the Detroit defense on their heals and not give the team any time with the puck.
  • Be physical
    The Habs have to be physical in the corners, in-front of the net and in every puck battle.
  • Be hard on the puck
    The Habs shouldn’t lose a puck in a one-on-one situation. It’s a matter of wanting it more and willing to outwork the other team on every occasion.
Statistical Matchup by All Habs staff
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | March 12, 7:30 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, FS-D

2018-19 statistics
RED WINGS CANADIENS
58 (30th) Points (rank) 79 (15th)
24-35-10 Record 36-26-7
11-18-5 Away/Home 19-11-4
1-7-2 Last 10 5-5-0
2.68 GF/G 2.99
3.38 GA/G 3.00
17.0 PP% 12.4
77.5 PK% 80.2
48.13  CF%  54.08
Pre-game quote
Paul Byron

  • “At the end of the day our fate is in our hands. We control what we do. If we win hockey games it doesn’t matter what happens elsewhere, and that’s got to be our focus.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Bertuzzi – Athanasiou – Mantha
Vanek – Nielsen – Zadina
Abdelkader – Glendening – Helm
Ehn – De la Rose – Rasmussen		 Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
 Byron – Domi – Shaw
Drouin – Kotkaniemi – Armia
Lehkonen – Thompson – Weal
Defensemen
 Dekeyser – Hronek
Ericsson – Daley
Kronwall – Bowey		 Mete – Weber
Kulak – Petry
   Benn – Folin
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Witkowski
Injured: Green, Larkin
 Scratched: Hudon, Deslauriers, Peca, Weise, Reilly, Lindgren
Injured: none
Goalies
Jimmy Howard Carey Price
Record: 18-19-5
GAA: – 3.02
Sv%: – .907
SO: 0
Alternate: Jonathan Bernier		 Record: 28-20-5
GAA: – 2.62
Sv%: – .914
SO: 3
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
The Canadiens have handled the Red Wings with ease this season but as they learned no game is won before the game has started. The Habs have reset after their road trip and need to comeback and play to the level of a team that is in the playoffs. The Wings haven’t had a great season and there isn’t a lot for them to look forward to but Detroit  can play the spoiler role and would love to against a divisional team that has beaten them badly a few times this season.
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