LEXINGTON, KY — This upcoming week the Canadiens will be finishing off the last three of their five games at home before going on the road again. The Habs went 2-0 last week and look to continue their streak, welcoming the Carolina Hurricanes, Anaheim Ducks, and Ottawa Senators to the Bell Centre.
On Monday starting at 2 pm. the players of the Montreal Canadiens will make their annual visit to meet young patients at the Sainte-Justine and Montreal Children’s hospitals. This initiative began 50 years ago by the late Jean Béliveau.
The Canadiens will pay tribute to Saku Koivu, one of the longest-tenured captains in their history, in a ceremony prior to Thursday’s game against Anaheim.
Calendar: December 15-21
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN
HOME
HOME
HOME
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Montreal Canadiens
The Habs (19-10-2) are coming off a good week, beating Vancouver 3-1 and Los Angeles 6-2 and start this week against Carolina on Tuesday. The Canadiens are still in third place in the Atlantic Division but have moved up to ninth place in the league with 40 points. They are 4-5-1 in their last ten games.
Players to Watch
Jiri Sekac. The Czech native has been playing great lately with four points in his last three games played, while scoring two goals on just two shots in the game against the Kings last Friday.
Sven Andrighetto. Andrighetto has had a great start with three points in his first three NHL games since his call-up from Hamilton. Andrighetto is the first Canadiens player with a point in each of his first three NHL games since Pierre Mondou in 1977-78 (per Elias Sports Bureau.)
Strengths (+)
Weaknesses (-)
The Habs’ goaltending has been great this season, led by Carey Price, with a save percentage of .922 (10th in the league.) Montreal’s penalty-kill remains one of their greatest strengths at 84.8 per cent (7th.)
The Habs’ offence gained some strength, scoring nine goals in their last two games, but the power-play remains cold at just 15.5 per cent (21st.)
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Tuesday
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes (8-18-3) are coming off a 5-1 loss against Philadelphia last Saturday; they are in last place in the Metropolitan Division as well as 29th in the league with 19 points. Carolina is 2-8-0 in their last ten games played.
Players to Watch
Justin Faulk. The defenceman leads the Hurricanes with 17 points in 28 games this season with two goals in his last three games.
Jiri Tlusty. Tlusty has ten goals this season, five while on the power-play (13th.) Tlusty missed Saturday’s game and is listed as day-to-day with an upper body injury. It is unclear whether he will be in the lineup on Tuesday. Tlusty is pointless in his past six games.
Strengths (+)
Weaknesses (-)
The Hurricanes have some bleak statistics but one bright spot is their penalty-kill at 81.6 per cent.
Carolina is averaging just 2.1 goals per game while also allowing an average of 2.79 goals against per game. The Carolina defence is struggling, allowing 12 goals against in their last four games.
Matchup
Tuesday December 16 | Montreal, QC.
CANADIENS
(statistics as of December 14, 2014)
HURRICANES
40 (9th)
Points
19 (29th)
11-3-1 (home)
Home/Away Record
3-11-2 (away)
2.55 (19th)
Goals per game
2.10 (28th)
2.52 (12th)
Goals Against per game
2.79 (19th)
27.7 (27th)
Shots per game
29.9 (17th)
30.5 (20th)
Shots Against per game
27.7 (5th)
15.5% (21st)
Power-play
19.2% (15th)
84.8% (7th)
Penalty-kill
81.6% (14th)
Season Series
First meeting this season.
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Thursday
Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks (21-6-5) have gone 7-0 so far in December and will play Montreal Thursday, after playing Toronto on Tuesday. Anaheim is first in the Pacific Division and first overall in the league with 47 points. They are 8-2-0 in their last ten games.
Players to Watch
Ryan Getzlaf. Getzlaf has 33 points this season (7th), with eight points in his last five games played. The 6’4” centre is also fourth in the league with 23 assists.
Corey Perry. The Canadiens won’t have to face Perry this time around as he is expected to miss three-to-four weeks with a knee sprain. Perry has 14 goals this season (8th).
Strengths (+)
Weaknesses (-)
The Ducks’ offence is a big asset, averaging 2.84 goals a game and their defence has helped put them in first place, only allowing an average of 2.5 goals against.
While the offence has been a big contributor to the Ducks’ success, their scoring power losses its edge with a man advantage with only an 18.4 per cent power-play.
Matchup
Thursday December 18 | Montreal, QC.
CANADIENS
(statistics as of December 14, 2014)
DUCKS
40 (9th)
Points
47 (1st)
11-3-1 (home)
Home/Away Record
11-3-2 (away)
2.55 (19th)
Goals per game
2.84 (13th)
2.52 (12th)
Goals Against per game
2.50 (11th)
27.7 (27th)
Shots per game
30.1 (15th)
30.5 (20th)
Shots Against per game
29.0 (14th)
15.5% (21st)
Power-play
18.4% (16th)
84.8% (7th)
Penalty-kill
81.3% (16th)
Season Series
First meeting this season.
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Saturday
Ottawa Senators
The Senators (12-12-5) are coming off an interesting week with the firing of head coach Paul MacLean on December 8th. The Sens are 1-1 since Dave Cameron made the transition from assistant to head coach and will play Montreal Saturday, after playing Anaheim the night before. Ottawa is seventh in the Atlantic Division with 29 points. They are 3-6-1 in their last ten games.
Players to Watch
Bobby Ryan. Ryan is second on the team with 18 points and has five points in his last four games played. Ryan’s goal against the Kings was his first goal in eight games.
Mika Zibanejad. The sixth overall pick in the 2011 draft has been hot as of late, with seven points in his last five games, including five goals. Zibanejad has 14 points this season.
Strengths (+)
Weaknesses (-)
Ottawa’s goaltending stands out, with two great goalies in the top 25 in the league for save percentage with Craig Anderson at .925 per cent (8th) and Robin Lehner at .916 per cent (22nd). The Sens also have a good penalty-kill at 82.4 per cent.
The Senators’ offence is really struggling at 20th in the league, averaging 2.52 goals per game.
