Canadiens – Flyers: Habs Look to Extend Series | GAME 5 PREVIEW

Sam Gerber

4 years ago

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

Game Preview by Sam Gerber

Last game : MTL 0 PHI 2 F Game 4 was very similar to game 3. The Habs continued to stay to the outside and the Flyers got an early lead and sat back. A number of players continue to struggle for the Habs, especially the wingers. The Flyers became the first team in NHL history to have a series lead after four games when only scoring five goals total.

For a complete game recap: Habs Blanked Again | GAME 4 RECAP

Players to watch

Shea Weber
Weber has had a very good series but with his team down 3-1 he needs to send a message as the captain that he’s not ready to call it quits and neither should the team.
Carey Price
It’s no secret that Price has been the Habs best player by far in the playoffs and he has done everything possible to steal this series for Montreal. It’s time for the skaters to do their part to win two games to force a game 7.
Brendan Gallagher
Gallagher is frustrated and beat up but most importantly, he has not played well in the playoffs. He was justifiably benched for some of the third and clearly wasn’t happy about it post game. The fact is if Gally wants to play he has to be the spark for his team as he’s clearly overthinking on the ice.

Keys to Victory

Push to the net
The Flyers have forced the Habs to the outside the last two games and the Habs have just let it happen. For the Habs to have a chance they need to get inside and get high danger chances again.
Play desperate
Down 3-1 the Habs haven’t shown much fight the last two games, they wanted a chance in the playoffs and got it but they haven’t shown enough emotion or that they belong. It’s time they get a little desperate.
Disrupt Hart
The Habs have to get traffic in front of Hart and make his night awful. Send a message that they aren’t going out with a fight.

Statistical Matchup by All Habs
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON \| August 19, 8:00 PM ET \| TV: CBC, SN, TVAS, NBCSN
	2019-20 playoff statistics
FLYERS	2019-20 playoff statistics	CANADIENS
12	Points (rank)	8
6-1	Record	4-4
–	Home	–
–	Last 10	–
2.29	GF/G	2.00
1.29	GA/G	1.63
3.6	PP%	12.5
81.8	PK%	88.2
45.32	CF%	52.53

Pre-game quotes
Interim head coach Kirk Muller “We want to bring our ‘A’-game here. This is where we have to learn how to dig in, and this is where you have to learn how to win hockey games. So that’s the mentality and attitude that we’re going to have today. We want to keep that going with our group and never be satisfied.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders by All Habs
Forwards
Giroux – Couturier – Voracek Laughton – Hayes – Konecny van Riemsdyk – Grant – Aube-Kubel Raffl – Thompson – Pitlick	Tatar – Danault – Gallagher Domi – Suzuki – Drouin Lehkonen – Kotkaniemi – Byron Belzile – Evans – Armia
Defensemen
Provorov – Niskanen Sanheim – Myers Hagg – Braun	Chiarot – Weber Kulak – Petry Ouellet – Mete
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Andreoff, Frost, Lindblom, Friedman, Welinski, Zamula, Lyon, Ustimenko, Bunnaman, Farabee, Gostisbehere Injured/Unfit to Play:	Scratched: Fleury, Poehling, Hudon, Folin, Juulsen, Olofsson, Primeau, McNiven, Weal, Weise, Romanov (ineligible) Injured/Unfit to Play:
Goalies
Carter Hart	Carey Price

Record: 5-1 GAA: – 1.24 Sv%: – .958 SO: 1 Alternate: Brian Elliot	Record: 4-4-0 GAA: – 1.48 Sv%: – .949 SO: 2 Alternate: Charlie Lindgren

What to Expect by Sam Gerber

It will be evident right from puck drop if the Habs are ready to go home or not. If they stay to the outside and don’t finish their checks tonight’s game will be a lot like the last two. But if the Habs come out fast, desperate and start showing some fight they will have a chance. They have to take it one game at a time and Price can be the difference maker if he gets some goal support.