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700th for Perreault | PREVIEW: MTL @ EDM

Sam Gerber

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

The Habs got the job done in an exciting back and forth game. Ben Chariot was the hero of the game, scoring not only the tying goal of the game but the overtime winner too.  There were two key injuries as Jake Evans left with an upper-body injury after taking multiple hits to the head and Andrew Hammond was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury.

Last game: MTL 5  CGY 4  F/OT

For a complete game recap: Habs Shock Flames | RECAP: MTL @ CGY

Players to Watch

  • Rem Pitlick
    The addition of Pitlick off waivers was a solid move by Jeff Gorton. Pitlick is a great skater with tremendous speed and a high compete level. He has recorded 10 points in 19 games providing supplementary scoring as a impactful depth forward.
  • Ben Chiarot
    Chiarot scored a pair of goals against Calgary giving him seven on the year. That ties him for 19th in goals scored by defenseman this season. He is tied in that category with Drew Doughty, Adam Fox and Alex Pietrangelo, some of the league’s top pairing defencemen.
  • Nick Suzuki
    Suzuki had one of the best games of his career with a goal and two assists in more than 23 minutes of ice time. The big story of the game was how he stepped up after Jake Evans went down with an injury, double-shifting and playing like a true number one centre.

Keys to Victory

  • Defend smartly
    Against the Flames, blown defensive zone coverage led to Calgary goals. Good teams will always take advantage. The Habs will have to do a much better job as the Oilers have two of the best forwards in the league and will easily take advantage of shoddy coverage.
  • Win special teams
    The Habs scored a power-play goal last game but it is an area that has continued to struggle under Marty St. Louis. Execution is key on the power-play and the Habs have to do a much better job at that if they want to move up the rankings.
  • Mind the gap
    The Habs could be in trouble against Connor McDavid as they simply do not have the speed on the backend to match him. That’s where their spacing will be key. Finding the right gap to disturb the superstar will be key.
Statistical Matchup for Game 56
Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB | March 5, 7:00 PM ET | TV: CBC, SN360, CITY, TVAS, ESPN+

2021-22  statistics
OILERS CANADIENS
64 (17th) Points (rank) 35 (31st)
30-21-4 Record 14-34-7
OT1 Streak W1
6-3-1 Last 10 6-4-0
3.26 (9th) GF/G (rank) 2.36 (31st)
3.18 (23rd) GA/G (rank) 3.82 (32nd)
26.2 (3rd) PP% (rank) 12.6 (31st)
76.3 (26th) PK%  (rank) 73.5 (31st)
51.9  Faceoff % 48.0
Pre-game Quotes
Marty St. Louis
  • “I’m not surprised that we are fighting, I think the guys have confidence in the way we play: we are never out of a match.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Foegele – McDavid – Hyman
Kane – Draisaitl – Yamamoto
Shore – McLeod – Ryan
Benson – Malone		 Caufield – Suzuki – Anderson
Hoffman – Dauphin – Gallagher
Lehkonen – R. Pitlick – Armia
Pezzetta – Poehling – Perreault
Defensemen
Nurse – Bouchard
Keith – Ceci
Lagesson – Broberg
Niemelainen		 Chiarot – Romanov
Kulak – Petry
Clague – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Sceviour, Turris
Injured: Barrie, Puljujarvi, Nugent-Hopkins, Kassian, Russell
COVID-19:		 Scratched: Paquette, Schueneman
Injured: Hammond (lower-body), Evans (upper-body), Byron (upper-body), T. Pitlick (undisclosed), Dvorak (upper-body), Savard (ankle), Allen (lower-body), Drouin (wrist), Edmundson (back), Price (knee), Weber (multiple injuries)
COVID-19:
Goalies
Mike Smith Sam Montembeault
Record: 5-7-1
GAA: 3.53
Sv%: .893
SO: 0
Alternate: Mikko Koskinen		 Record: 5-11-4
GAA: 3.74
Sv%: .896
SO: 1
Alternate: Cayden Primeau
 Game Expectations
Two teams face off who had recent coaching changes despite differing situations. The Habs season is all but done as they sit second last. While the coaching change has provided a 6-4-0 record, this is all about culture change and preparing for next season. The Oilers on the other hand are in the middle of a playoff race and are on the outside looking in. Their goaltending has been inconsistent all season and they are losing games that they should win. The Oilers did easily beat the Habs the last time they played and will look to do the same again.

Bottom Line

The Habs will want to make up for their last game against the Oilers and do their best to make it a close checking game and not a track meet.
 Video Highlights

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