Allen is Back | PREVIEW: MTL @ WSH

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

It was a wild night in Montreal that saw the Habs get a five goal lead through two periods. It was a pleasant surprise to see several players find the back of the net but more to see this team compete and prove that they can fill the back of the net. Sam Montembeault was strong in net, especially early, giving the Habs a quality start. The Predators did comeback in the third but the lead was enough for the Habs to get a convincing win.

Last game: MTL 6  NSH 3  F

For a complete game recap: All Smiles | RECAP: NSH @ MTL

Players to Watch

  • Ryan Poehling
    Poehling had a strong game for the Habs. With three goals in six games he’s doing exactly what he needs to do to keep his spot in the lineup. Poehling has an interesting skill set that the Habs don’t really have, he can thrive anywhere in the lineup when given the chance. Hopefully the Habs continue to allow him to prove he’s ready for the NHL.
  • Jonathan Drouin
    Drouin has quietly had a decent start to the season with nine points in fourteen games. It’s great to see some time off has helped. His play making was on full display last game setting up multiple goals. If Drouin can be that type of player on a nightly basis the Habs will easily be a better team and could start climbing the standings.
  • Nick Suzuki
    It is hard to believe Suzuki was held off the score sheet in a game where the Habs scored six goals but it happened. Suzuki isn’t going to have too many of those nights so it was great to see his teammates do their part. If Suzuki can find his chemistry with Cole Caulfield and Tyler Toffoli it will be a huge boost for the Habs.

Keys to Victory

  • Maintain the effort
    The Habs surprised everyone last game with a high offensive game. The Habs need to build off that win and have the same type of effort tonight and put together a few wins.
  • Win special teams
    While the Habs had a great game they fell apart in the third giving up back-to-back power-play goals. The Habs need to be much more aggressive on the penalty-kill and be willing to take chances. They are already giving up goals regularly. It won’t hurt to gamble and try to force a turnover rather than sit back and keep everything to the outside.
  • Contain Ovechkin
    Records are being broken this season with almost every goal scored by Alex Ovechkin this season as he tries to chase down The Great One for goals scored. The Habs have to have a game plan in place to contain Ovechkin and stick with it. Great players only need one mistake or a split second to change a game.
Statistical Matchup for Game 21
Capital One Arena, Washington, DC | November 24, 7:00 PM ET | TV: RDS, TSN2, ESPN+, NBCSWA+

2021-22  statistics
CAPITALS CANADIENS
27 (4th) Points (rank) 12 (29th)
11-3-5 Record 5-13-2
L1 Streak W1
6-2-2 Last 10 3-5-2
3.37 (7th) GF/G (rank) 2.20 (29th)
2.32 (4th) GA/G (rank) 3.50 (29th)
16.7 (22nd) PP% (rank) 14.8 (28th)
83.3 (11th) PK%  (rank) 69.2 (29th)
46.2  Faceoff % 48.0

 

Pre-game Quotes
Dominique Ducharme

  • “We will have to show even more character and get our hands dirty. We did this on our last trip. We now have to take that to another level, in order to have good results.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Ovechkin – Kuznetsov – Wilson
Jonsson-Fjallby – McMichael – Sprong
Hagelin – Dowd – Hathaway
Cholowski – Protas – Leason		 Toffoli – Suzuki – Caufield
Drouin – Dvorak – Anderson
Lehkonen – Evans – Gallagher
Paquette – Poehling – Armia
Defensemen
Fehervary – Carlson
Orlov – Jensen
Van Riemsdyk – Schultz		 Chiarot – Petry
Niku – Savard
Romanov – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched:
Injured: Backstrom, Mantha, Eller, Oshie, Sheary		 Scratched: Norlinder, Pezzetta
Injured: Kulak (lower-body), Hoffman (upper body), Perreault (eye), Edmundson (lower-body), Price (knee), Byron (hip), Weber (multiple injuries)
Goalies
Ilya Samsonov Jake Allen
Record: 6-0-1
GAA: 2.11
Sv%: .924
SO: 3
Alternate: Vitek Vanecek		 Record: 4-8-1
GAA: 2.78
Sv%: .905
SO: 2
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
The Habs start a three game road trip against the third place team in the league. After a convincing win and great confidence booster for the Habs it would be a shame if they have a let down against the Caps. A tight checking and disciplined game by the Habs is exactly what they need but they will have to be careful in coverage as only two other teams have scored more goals than the Caps so far this season. Jake Allen will likely be tested often in his first game after recovering from his concussion and he can’t afford to have any rust.

Bottom Line

In order to get out of the bottom the Habs are going to have to beat some good teams and that has to happen sooner rather than later.
 Video Highlights

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