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Allen to Start | PREVIEW: OTT @ MTL

Cole Jurzyniec

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

The Canadiens had their chances but Anton Forsberg held the fort. The team was dismantled by a hot Senators offense in the second period who did not let off the gas pedal scoring five unanswered goals to shut-out the Canadiens and send the team packing.

Last game: MTL 0  OTT 5  F

For a complete game recap: A Memorable Night | RECAP: MTL @ OTT

Players to Watch

  • Josh Anderson
    The 28-year-old winger has been getting his opportunity on the top line and caught some fire mid-January scoring three goals in three consecutive games. The past three games have posed some difficulty for the team overall however Anderson has been noticeable. Although he’s gone pointless in the past three losses, he should continue this dominance as he gets more ice-time.
  • Nick Suzuki
    The Captain has hit a brick wall only having one goal in 19 games and only adding six assists to boot. The team has been dealing with a plethora of injuries that has only added difficulties to the front-end but Suzuki should be producing at a higher rate and will be looking to turn it around for the remainder of the season.
  • Alex Belzile
    The AHL/ECHL veteran has been part of the charge on the fourth line which typically has been a group with considerable energy. The Quebec native almost opened the scoring in Ottawa on Saturday night but rung it off the post. The 6-foot centerman and his linemates were on the wrong side of shot attempts on Saturday in Ottawa getting hemmed in the defensive zone for extended periods but they will have another chance to put forth a better effort at home versus the Senators.

Keys to Victory

  • Find the net
    It may seem obvious, but to win hockey games, you need goals. The Canadiens will be looking to turn the tide in their back-to-back matchup with the Senators and will be trying to find more production.
  • Mind your shifts
    With a depleted squad, players are getting more ice-time then what they’re usually used to, keeping shifts short will be a key factor in keeping the flow and energy alive and allow the Canadiens to avoid getting caught flat-footed.
  • Play responsibly
    Shutting down the key offensive players on Ottawa will be necessary in gaining two points. When they allow players such as Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux to run wild, they’ll run into the same issue they had on Saturday night. Defensive hockey is important but the focus surrounding this match should be balance.
Statistical Matchup for Game 51
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | January 31, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+

2022-23  statistics
SENATORS CANADIENS
49 (24th) Points (rank) 44 (26th)
23-23-3 Record 20-26-4
W3 Streak L1
5-5-0 Last 10 4-5-1
2.96 (24th) GF/G (rank) 2.52 (30th)
3.16 (19th) GA/G (rank) 3.68 (28th)
26.3 (3rd) PP% (rank) 14.8 (32nd)
81.2 (10th) PK% (rank) 73.5 (29th)
52.1  Faceoff % 49.8
Pre-game Quotes
Marty St. Louis on a small practice on Monday
  • “It felt like a youth hockey practice for me with 15 people on the ice.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Tkachuk – Stutzle – Joseph
DeBrincat – Greig – Giroux
Brassard – Pinto – Batherson
Motte – Gambrell – Kelly		 Pitlick – Suzuki – Anderson
Hoffman – Dach – Dadonov
Dvorak – Ylonen
Pezzetta – Belzile – Harvey-Pinard
Defensemen
Chabot – Holden
Sanderson – Hamonic
Brannstrom – Zaitsev		 Xhekaj – Savard
Matheson – Barron
Harris – Kovacevic
Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched:
Injured: Watson, Chartier, Zub, Norris, Talbot		 Scratched:
Injured: Byron (hip), Price (knee), Monahan (lower-body), Guhle (lower-body), Gallagher (lower-body), Evans (lower-body), Armia (upper-body), Slafkovsky (lower-body), Drouin (upper-body), Caufield (shoulder), Edmundson (upper-body)
Goalies
Anton Forsberg Jake Allen
Record: 10-10-2
GAA: 3.09
Sv%: .906
SO: 2
Alternate: Kevin Mandolese		 Record: 10-16-2
GAA: 3.53
Sv%: .893
SO: 0
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
The Habs should bring some more offensive flare to stack up to the Senators, after a team is shut-out they typically come back out stronger. This game should be a high scoring match with lots of hitting and loads of offensive opportunities, the goalies will be tested.

Bottom Line

Although the team is struggling in the injury department, a few players are getting an opportunity in a larger role and more ice-time, which could positively translate in the future when the team is healthy and more put-together.
 Video Highlights

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