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

A Look Back

Kaapo Kahkonen and the Sharks were able to shut out the Canadiens on home ice. Matt Nieto struck early tapping in a loose puck at the 1:33 mark of the game. The Habs had six high-danger scoring opportunities in the game but could not find net. The power-play continues to struggle as they were on the man-advantage six times, one being a two-man advantage late in the second and into the start of the third period, but again could not convert.

Last game: MTL 0  SJS 4  F

For a complete game recap: Pitiful Power-play | RECAP: SJS @ MTL

Players to Watch

• Joel Edmundson
  Joel has been quiet this season; the alternate captain has two points in 12 games played. Although it’s not point production the team is particularly looking for, number 44 has been regularly turning the puck over which has been a key factor in some of the Habs losses. With 21 giveaways in 12 games he needs to find a way to simplify his game and get back to his dominant self.
• Sean Monahan
  The former 2013 first round pick has been excelling in his role as a Hab. Not only has he found production with 14 points in 22 games, but the 28-year-old has been winning plenty of faceoffs to lead the team with a win rate of 55.2 percent. He’s going up against his former team in the Saddledome tonight, so he’ll be looking to make a splash.
• Juraj Slafkovsky
  The Canadiens first overall pick has had an underwhelming first quarter. He has shown little offensive production, but more worrying is that he is regularly on the losing end of puck battles and is often knocked off his skates. He will get yet another opportunity on the second line with Gallagher out of the lineup.

Keys to Victory

• Limit shots
  The Flames are currently tied for fourth with an average of 34.3 shots per game. The Canadiens need to focus on staying out of the defensive zone as much as possible. Calgary packs an offensive punch and can absolutely hold the momentum at will so limiting turnovers and executing defensive hockey will be necessary.
• Win special teams
  The Canadiens have had a tragic powerplay and they’ve found themselves right back where they were last year, second last with a 14.9 percent success rate which is only slightly better than their 13.7 percent last season. Something needs to give on the man-advantage as the current structure has been ineffective.
• Move the puck
  The team needs to find a way to tidy up their breakouts and neutral zone attacks. The number of giveaways so far this season has squandered many winning opportunities. With the amount of speed on this team, transitional hockey can be a superb aspect of their game if they can master the pass.

2022-23  statistics

• “You have to be on the same wavelength. We need to understand our concepts and think in the future with the concepts, not just in the present. I found that against the Sharks, we stayed too much in the present. We did not break the disadvantage. There are discussions. We have a young squad for our power play. We must continue to discuss and collaborate to find ways to improve.”

Bottom Line