Pezzetta To Make NHL Debut | PREVIEW: DET @ MTL

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

Game Preview

A Look Back

The road trip ended in disaster with the Habs taking multiple penalties in the first period putting them behind early. They battled back but were outplayed in every zone of the ice and looked like a team that didn’t want to be there. It’s become frustrating to watch.  Rookie Cole Caufield has been sent down to the AHL in hopes to find his confidence once again.

Last game: MTL 2  ANA 4  F

For a complete game recap: A Historically Bad Start | RECAP: MTL @ ANA

Players to Watch

  • Mike Hoffman
    Hoffman showed exactly why the Habs signed him. His shot is one of the best in the league. The Habs need to find a way to use that shot as a weapon every time he is on the ice as he currently has 21 percent of the Habs goals scored and missed the first three games of the season.
  • Jeff Petry
    Petry finally got his first point of the season, hopefully this means more to come. Petry is now the Habs No. 1 defenceman and that quite possibly could be hurting him. Petry just might not be a number one guy and needs the support of a Shea Weber, however, the Habs either need him to play like one or a decision has to be made.
  • Nick Suzuki
    After signing the big contract this season, Suzuki hasn’t found his game just yet. Teams saw just how talented he is and are playing him harder but it will be up to Suzuki to rise to the challenge and prove that he’s worth every penny.

Keys to Victory

  • Make penalty-kill adjustments
    The coaching staff have not made adjustments to the penalty-kill and that is concerning as they continue to give up at least a goal a game. It’s not a recipe for success and changes need to be made.
  • Create energy
    Some lineup changes will be made to make some energy for the Habs, something that has been lacking a majority this season. It’s important that the Habs have the same energy throughout and don’t drop off for periods of the game.
  • Keep it simple
    The Habs easily handled the Red Wings last time around and need to draw from that game. Keeping the game plan simple and executing it will be key.
Statistical Matchup for Game 11
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | November 2, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, BSDET+

2021-22  statistics
RED WINGS CANADIENS
10 (14th) Points (rank) 4 (30th)
4-3-2 Record 2-8-0
L1 Streak L2
4-2-0 Last 10 2-8-0
3.22 GF/G 1.90
3.44 GA/G 3.40
15.2 (25th) PP% (rank) 11.1 (29th)
73.5 (25th) PK%  (rank) 65.0 (30th)
50.4  Faceoff % 43.8
Pre-game Quotes
Dominique Ducharme

  • “We expect [Carey Price] to be in town soon, but we don’t know the date yet.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Fabbri – Larkin – Raymond
Erne – Suter – Zadina
Veleno – Rasmussen – Namestnikov
Rowney – Stephens – Gagner		 Toffoli – Suzuki – Gallagher
Hoffman – Drouin – Anderson
Lehkonen – Dvorak – Armia
Pezzetta – Evans – Belzile
Defensemen
DeKeyser – Seider
Leddy – Hronek
Staal – Oesterie		 Chiarot – Petry
Kulak – Savard
Niku – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Bertuzzi, Stecher, Vrana, Lindstrom
Injured: none
 Scratched: Norlinder, Romanov, Brooks
Injured: Perreault (eye), Edmundson (lower-body), Price (player assistance program), Byron (hip), Weber (multiple injuries)
Suspended: Paquette
Goalies
Thomas Greiss Jake Allen
Record: 3-2-0
GAA: 3.11
Sv%: .905
SO: 0
Alternate: Alex Nedeljkovic		 Record: 2-6-0
GAA: 2.91
Sv%: .907
SO: 1
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
If the Habs don’t get off to a good start don’t be surprised to see the fans turn early. Habs fans hate losing more than they like winning and it’s only a matter of time until they’ve had enough. The Wings are becoming a scrappy team that won’t give up easy goals. All four lines competing is exactly what the Habs need to beat the Wings.

Bottom Line

The Habs are the last place team in the Eastern Conference and the uphill battle starts now. Teams have started to cast them out with 72 games left to be played. It’s a long season but the Habs need this win tonight.
 Video Highlights

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