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Canadiens @ Jets: A Goalie Duel | HABS GAME 1 PREVIEW

Sam Gerber
Winnipeg-1

GAME DAY PREVIEW | Montreal Canadiens vs Winnipeg Jets: Preview, TV, Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Habs Tickets, NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Series

Game Preview

A Look Back

The Habs did the improbable, beating the Leafs and coming back from a three-to-one series deficit to do so. The final game showed the will the Habs had to win. Seemed to me that the Habs shut down the Leafs and got a few lucky bounces along the way. The celebration for the first round series victory was short-lived as round two starts tonight . Game one could be the most important match of the series..

Last game: MTL 3  TOR 1 | Canadiens won series 4-3

For a complete game recap: Canadiens @ Maple Leafs: Price Carries Habs to Round 2 | GAME 7 RECAP

Players to Watch

  • Tyler Toffoli
    Toffoli did the most damage to the Jets in the regular season for the Habs. He was quiet in the first round picking up an empty-netter in the last game. That could be just what he needed to get going. Most importantly, Toffoli will have to use his  hockey IQ to make the little plays to jumpstart his offensive game.
  • Josh Anderson
    Anderson left most fans wanting more in round one. He had his moments but wasn’t able to be as effective as he was in game one. This series will be much more physical and Anderson is going to take a few hits. Staying healthy will be key for the big forward who is banged up already.
  • Jeff Petry
    The Habs will need much more production from the backend in order to beat the Jets and that starts with Petry. Jeff had a good start to the season but cooled off drastically. The good news is Petry was great against the Jets this season.

Keys to Victory

  • Maintain composure
    While the Habs went the distance, the Jets swept their first round matchup and have been resting for the last week. The Habs are going to need a lot of composure and weather the storm early as the Jets are going to come out flying and have a lot more energy.
  • Pressure the defence
    The Jets defence is big and physical but they are not deep and cannot handle a lot of pressure. The Habs have to pressure them every game and force them to make mistakes that the Habs have to capitalize on.
  • Use their speed
    It will be hard to match the speed and energy level of the Jets especially their top players. The Habs will have to counter it with speed of their own.
Statistical Matchup for Round 2, Game 1
Bell MTS Place, Winnipeg, MB | June 2, 7:30 PM ET | TV: CBC, SN, TVAS, NBCSN

2020-21 Playoff statistics
JETS CANADIENS
— Points (rank) —
4-0 Record 4-3
– Last 10 –
30.0 (4th) PP% (rank) 15.8 (12th)
81.8 (6th) PK% (rank) 87.0 (2nd)
54.6 Faceoff% 49.4
3.50 GF/G 2.00
2.00 GA/G 2.57
44.73  CF% 47.83
Pre-game Quotes
Corey Perry
  • “We’re coming off Game 7 and they’ve been sitting around waiting. We have to match their intensity and be ready. We have a good group in that dressing room that realizes where we are. We’re just going out and playing hockey. It’s all about just doing your job. That’s what we keep telling everybody: ‘Do your job and the next guy beside you will do his.'”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Connor – Scheifele – Wheeler
Stastny – Dubois – Ehlers
Copp – Lowry – Appleton
Perreault – Thompson – Lewis		 Evans – Danault – Gallagher
Toffoli – Suzuki – Caufield
Byron – Kotkaniemi – Anderson
Perry – Staal – Armia
Defensemen
Morrissey – Demelo
Forbort – Pionk
Stanley – Poolman		 Chiarot – Weber
Edmundson – Petry
Kulak – Gustafsson
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Niku, Benn
Injured:
 Scratched: Frolik, Romanov, Lindgren, Tatar
Injured: Drouin (undisclosed), Lehkonen (undisclosed), Merrill (undisclosed)
Goalies
Connor Hellebuyck Carey Price
Record: 4-0
GAA: 1.60
Sv%: .950
SO: 1
Alternate: Laurent Brossoit		 Record: 4-3
GAA: 2.24
Sv%: .932
SO: 0
Alternate: Jake Allen
 Game Expectations
The regular season was a close battle all season long with the Jets getting a few victories in overtime. The Jets are big, strong, and have arguably two first lines. Kyle Connor was the Habs kryptonite this season and they have to play him hard. Even with that line in check, the Habs will have their hands full and it will be up to the Habs young guns to step up once again and their veterans to give every drop of sweat they have left to outwork the Jets bottom lines.

Bottom Line

The Habs will need to generate offence from the backend to win this series but cannot afford to allow the Jets forwards to get behind them. It will be a challenge but as we’ve learned anything can happen in the playoffs.
 Video Highlights

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