Harris, Dvorak Out | PREVIEW: NYR @ MTL

By
Cole Jurzyniec
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GAME DAY PREVIEW | Montreal Canadiens vs New York Rangers: Preview, TV, Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Habs Tickets

Game Preview 

A Look Back

Montreal started off with authority scoring the first two goals in the first period. The Canes would not go down easily, scoring two to tie the match in the second period. The fourth line continued to dominate with Michael Pezzetta finding his 5th of the season.  Jesper Fast tied it again for the Hurricanes late in the third. The game ultimately ended in favor of Carolina in a shoot-out.

Last game: MTL 3  CAR 4  F/SO

For a complete game recap: KK Quiets the Bell Centre | RECAP: CAR @ MTL

Players to Watch

  • Mike Hoffman
    Hoffman was pointless for the past five games until Tuesday night, where he was able to pot a goal on a gimme from Jonathan Drouin. This could spark some confidence in the 6-foot winger.
  • Jonathan Drouin
    The 27-year-old winger scored his first goal of the season last Friday against Anaheim and since then has added two more assists bringing him to 20 this year. He’s had a slight turn-around since the beginning of the season and has been producing.
  • Alex Belzile
    The Quebec native has been playing with an edge as of recent. He has three points in the last two games (2G-1A) and the fourth line has been producing for the team. With this confidence in mind, Belzile could continue to add to the stat sheet.

Keys to Victory

  • Get secondary scoring
    The bottom six has been elevating pressure on the top lines and giving the team a chance to win games. If all four forward lines can produce, the Canadiens should have a better chance finding a win against the Rangers.
  • Limit shots
    The Canadiens allowed the Hurricanes to pepper Jake Allen with 39 shots. The Rangers have fire-power up front that can dismantle any team, so the Habs will have to find a way to shut them down.
  • Play shut-down hockey
    The Rangers have 14 rostered players with over 20 plus points. The Habs will have to play a defensively minded game against a playoff bound team.
Statistical Matchup for Game 65
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | March 9, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, MSG

2022-23  statistics
RANGERS CANADIENS
79 (11th) Points (rank) 57 (27th)
35-19-9 Record 26-33-5
L2 Streak OT1
4-5-1 Last 10 3-6-1
3.27 (13th) GF/G (rank) 2.69 (28th)
2.81 (11th) GA/G (rank) 3.56 (27th)
22.8 (10th) PP% (rank) 16.0 (31st)
79.3 (16th) PK% (rank) 74.3 (28th)
48.9  Faceoff % 49.2
Pre-game 
Johnathan Kovacevic

  • “In our last games we didn’t get the expected results, but we played the right way. We are building the foundations of our team identity. We will face good teams soon and it’s a great challenge. If we can compete against them, it will be great for us.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Kreider – Zibanejad – Tarasenko
Panarin – Trocheck – Kane
Lafreniere – Chytil – Kakko
Vesey – Goodrow – Brodzinski		 Harvey-Pinard – Suzuki – Ylonen
Hoffman – Drouin – Anderson
Pitlick – Tierney – Gurianov
Pezzetta – Belzile – Richard
Defensemen
Miller – Trouba
Mikkola – Fox
Harpur – Schneider		 Matheson – Savard
Edmundson – Guhle
Wideman – Kovacevic
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Hajek, Blais, Leschyshyn
Injured: Gauthier Lindgren, Motte		 Scratched: none
Injured: Byron (hip), Price (knee), Monahan (lower-body), Gallagher (lower-body), Evans (lower-body), Slafkovsky (lower-body), Caufield (shoulder), Xhekaj (upper-body), Dach (lower-body), Armia (illness), Barron (upper-body), Dvorak (lower-body), Harris (lower-body)
Goalies
Igor Shesterkin Sam Montembeault
Record: 27-11-7
GAA: 2.67
Sv%: .909
SO: 1
Alternate: Jaroslav Halak		 Record: 12-13-2
GAA: 3.30
Sv%: .905
SO: 0
Alternate: Jake Allen
 Game Expectations
The team was able to put up a commendable effort against Carolina. If they bring the same energy against New York, they have a chance of coming out with a win at home in this original six matchup.

Bottom Line

The Canadiens have a brutal schedule ahead of them, having the second toughest string of opponents in their 18 remaining games. All to be expected is a fair effort on the ice.
 Video Highlights

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