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Welcome Back Ben | PREVIEW: FLA @ MTL

Sam Gerber
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Welcome Back Ben | PREVIEW: FLA @ MTL

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

The Habs played a competitive game against one of their biggest rivals but sadly they blew a lead late in the game. It didn’t take very long in overtime as the Habs gambled and it cost them> The Bruins went the other way and easily secured the extra point. Jake Allen was once again strong making several key stops.

Last game: MTL 2  BOS 3  F/OT

For a complete game recap: ‘I Love My Players’ | RECAP: BOS @ MTL

Players to Watch

  • Christian Dvorak
    The Habs are evaluating their roster and will be making some tough decisions in the off season. Dvorak will be scrutinized heavily now that he is healthy and the Habs need to get the most out of him if he is to remain as part of the rebuild.
  • Jonathan Drouin
    Drouin returned to the lineup, healthy last week. Once again promises were made that he was paired with a coach who would get the most out of him. And once again,  Drouin delivered nothing in the two games since his return. After taking a maintenance day, Drouin will not play tonight. Tyler Pitlick will take his place.
  • Justin Barron
    Newly-acquired right-shot defenseman Justin Barron has joined the Canadiens for practice but won’t make his debut right away. Barron is an excellent skater using his speed to be a solid defender. Despite his size, Barron does not play a physical game.

Keys to Victory

  • Protect the zone
    The Habs were guilty of poor defensive coverage a few times against the Bruins and paid for it. The Panthers are one of the best teams in the league so the Habs play in their own zone will need to be at its best.
  • Match intensity
    The Panthers are preparing for playoff hockey and will be upping their intensity. For the Habs to have a chance, they will have to rise to the occasion and match the effort.
  • Win special teams
    The penalty-kill will have to be sharp as the Panthers know how to move the puck around and have several players with elite shots.
Statistical Matchup for Game 64
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | March 24, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, BSFL

2021-22  statistics
PANTHERS CANADIENS
90 (2nd) Points (rank) 44 (32nd)
42-14-6 Record 17-36-10
W1 Streak OT1
7-2-1 Last 10 4-3-3
4.07 (1st) GF/G (rank) 2.51 (32nd)
2.84 (13th) GA/G (rank) 3.76 (32nd)
23.7 (10th) PP% (rank) 13.7 (31st)
80.0 (14th) PK%  (rank) 74.5 (28th)
47.5  Faceoff % 48.1
Pre-game Quotes
Jake Evans on Ben Chiarot

  • “I can see him sending some harder crosschecks tonight. I think Cole (Caufield) and I will take some extra beatings so I’ll put on some extra padding.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Verhaeghe – Barkov – Giroux
Huberdeau – Bennett – Duclair
Marchment – Luostarinen – Reinhart
Lomberg – Acciari – Mamin		 Caufield – Suzuki – Anderson
R. Pitlick – Evans – Hoffman
Byron – Dvorak – Armia
Pezzetta – Dauphin – T. Pitlick
Defensemen
Chiarot – Weegar
Forsling – Gudas
Hagg – Montour		 Romanov – Savard
Edmundson – Petry
Schueneman – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Thornton, Carlsson, Lindbohm, Mamin
Injured: Nutivaara, Lundell, Ekblad, Johansson		 Scratched: Perreault, Lagesson, Barron
Injured: Drouin (illness), Gallagher (lower-body), Poehling (upper-body), Clague (upper-body), Price (knee), Weber (multiple injuries)
Goalies
Spencer Knight Jake Allen
Record: 12-7-3
GAA: 2.88
Sv%: .906
SO: 1
Alternate: Sergei Bobrovsky		 Record: 6-16-4
GAA: 3.09
Sv%: .905
SO: 2
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
The Panthers have the best goal differential in the NHL and that should be concerning as the Habs have the worst. The Habs have played much better hockey since the coaching change but this is going to be a tough matchup. Former Habs defenceman Ben Chiarot will make his Panthers debut and the Habs will know exactly what to expect from him. He won’t take anything easy and will love to give a few former teammates a shot or two.

Bottom Line

Nothing easy and keeping the game close should be the Habs game plan as a blowout loss would really hurt .
 Video Highlights

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