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A Familiar Face | PREVIEW: MTL @ CGY

Sam Gerber

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

It was a high scoring affair early as the Habs were down by four goals 10 minutes into the game. They battled right back and it was a one goal game going into the third period but then the wheels came off. The Jets didn’t let up and scored four straight power-play goals. While it was a tough loss, it was great to see a Habs team who can fight back.

Last game: MTL 4  WPG 8  F

For a complete game recap: A Rollercoaster | RECAP: MTL @ WPG

Players to Watch

  • Cole Caufield
    It’s impossible to not keep mentioning Caufield’s name. His playing style is always going to be about offense and he is playing with confidence right now. The rest of the season will be interesting to see how he can develop in becoming dominant offensively while never being a liability defensively.
  • Joel Armia
    One player the Habs need to get going is Armia, when he is on his game he is dominant at puck possession and is able to find the back of the net. Armia showed that style against the Jets and will need to be more consistent with his performance.
  • Corey Schueneman
    Flying under the radar this season has been Schueneman. With only eight NHL games under his belt he hasn’t looked out of place. Look for Schueneman to get a good look the rest of the season for the Habs to truly identify his value.

Keys to Victory

  • Stay disciplined
    The Habs took seven minor penalties last game. That simply cannot happen. While the referees were calling everything, the Habs weren’t able to defend on the penalty kill. They will need to do a much better job tonight against one of the best teams in the league.
  • Control the play
    Last game got away from both teams but more for the Habs and they paid dearly. The Habs need to be in the driver’s seat to win games and be controlling the play.
  • Stop the puck
    The Habs goaltending was pretty good during the winning streak and that is all the Habs need. The season is over for the Habs. They don’t need great goaltending, they just need someone who is going to stop the shots they’re expected to and not give up bad goals.
Statistical Matchup for Game 55
Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB | March 3, 9:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+

2021-22  statistics
FLAMES CANADIENS
70 (8th) Points (rank) 33 (31st)
32-14-6 Record 13-34-7
W2 Streak L1
9-1-0 Last 10 5-5-0
3.46 (8th) GF/G (rank) 2.32 (31st)
2.40 (2nd) GA/G (rank) 3.82 (32nd)
23.2 (10th) PP% (rank) 12.4 (31st)
84.9 (4th) PK%  (rank) 73.1 (31st)
51.1  Faceoff % 48.0
Pre-game Quotes
Marty St. Louis
  • “I’ll take advice from anyone who has done it longer than I have.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Gaudreau – Lindholm – Tkachuk
Mangiapane – Backlund – Coleman
Lucic – Monahan – Toffoli
Lewis – Richardson – Ritchie		 Caufield – Suzuki – Anderson
Hoffman – Dauphin – Gallagher
R. Pitlick – Evans – Lehkonen
Pezzetta – Poehling –  Armia
Defensemen
Hanifin – Andersson
Kylington – Tanev
Zadorov – Gubranson		 Chiarot – Romanov
Kulak – Petry
Wideman – Schueneman
Out of the lineup
Scratched:
Injured:
COVID-19:		 Scratched: Paquette, Clague, Perreault
Injured: 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
Jacob Markstrom Andrew Hammond
Record: 25-11-5
GAA: 2.10
Sv%: .927
SO: 8
Alternate: Daniel Vladar		 Record: 2-0-0
GAA: 1.72
Sv%: .939
SO: 0
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
An all too familiar face will be the opponent tonight as the Habs take on one of the best teams from the West. Tyler Toffoli has fit in perfectly with the Flames, averaging a point per game since the trade. The Flames are a tough matchup for the Habs.They lead the league with the fewest goals against while the Habs are the only team to surrender more than 200 goals so far this season. The Flames are big and mean on the backend but the key to their success has been their goaltending that leads the league in shutouts.

Bottom Line

This is a game that could easily get out of the hands for the Habs. After their last game, a low scoring, tight checking game would be a great turnaround performance.
 Video Highlights

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