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Canadiens @ Flames: Looking to Rebound | HABS PREVIEW

Rick Stephens

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

This was a game that the Flames wanted more. Calgary beat the Canadiens to the puck on every turn and pressured Habs players when they had the puck. Defensive zone exits were difficult, faceoffs were an issue and offensive zone time was minimal.

Last game: MTL 2  CGY 4

For a complete game recap: Canadiens @ Flames: Outbattled 

Players to Watch

  • Joel Armia
    Armia has been consistently one of the Canadiens better players since he returned from his bout with COVID. Armia has been strong on the puck using his size to create opportunities for Tyler Toffoli and Nick Suzuki.
  • Josh Anderson
    Anderson has the speed of Paul Byron, scoring touch of a Tyler Toffoli, tenacity of Brendan Gallagher and the competitive, gritty play of Shea Weber. Anderson is a force in every game.
  • Phillip Danault
    Danault has been a disappointment in every aspect of his game this season: offensively, defensively and on special teams. His ability to win important faceoffs can no longer be trusted either.

Keys to Victory

  • Get off to a strong start
    The Canadiens have look unprepared from the drop of the puck more often than not under Dominique Ducharme. It’s important to establish offensive zone time via the forecheck right from the outset.
  • Play with pace
    The Habs had a very difficult time cleanly exiting their own zone and clearing the puck at time. Pay attention to details, support each other and increase the tempo of their game.
  • Get to the slot
    The ‘home plate’ in front of Jacob Markstrom was cold on the heat map of Friday night’s game. Montreal has to work harder to get to the front of the net and stay their to increase high-quality scoring opportunities.
Statistical Matchup
Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB | April 24, 7:00 PM ET | TV: SNE, SNW, CITY, TVAS

2020-21 statistics
FLAMES CANADIENS
43 (22nd) Points (rank) 49 (17th)
20-23-3 Record 20-16-9
11-10-1 Home/Away 10-6-7
4-6-0 Last 10 3-7-0
2.63 GF/G 2.91
2.91 GA/G 2.79
20.0 (18th) PP% (rank) 18.8 (21st)
80.8 (11th) PK% (rank) 77.9 (22nd)
52.46  CF% 54.61
Pre-game Quotes
Dominique Ducharme
  • “I expect more energy. I know they’re coming out of a situation that’s different than ours, but I was expecting our team to show more energy in their game.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Gaudreau – Lindholm – Tkachuk
Mangiapane – Monahan – Ritchie
Lucic – Backlund – Nordstrom
Dube – Ryan – Robinson		 Toffoli – Suzuki – Perry
Tatar – Danault – Anderson
Lehkonen – Kotkaniemi – Armia
Evans – Staal
Defensemen
Giordano – Tanev
Hanifin – Andersson
Valimaki – Stone		 Chiarot – Weber
Edmundson – Petry
Romanov – Merrill – Gustafsson
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Nesterov, Zagidulin
Injured: Leivo
 Scratched: Ouellet, Frolik, Kulak
Injured: Gallagher (hand), Price (concussion), Byron (lower-body), Drouin (illness)
Goalies
Jacob Markstrom Cayden Primeau
Record: 16-16-2
GAA: 2.77
Sv%: .902
SO: 3
Alternate: Louis Domingue		 Record: 0-0-0
GAA: 0.00
Sv%: .000
SO: 0
Alternate: Jake Allen
 Game Expectations
The Canadiens and Flames have just two games left in their season series, tonight and Monday night. Calgary trails Montreal by just six points for the last playoff spot in the North Division with the Habs holding one game in hand.

Bottom Line

The Canadiens will want to snuff out any momentum that the Flames gained from Friday night’s game in making their playoff push. The winner of tonight’s game will go a long way to deciding fourth place and a post-season berth.
 Video Highlights

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