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Canadiens @ Jets: Answering With A Win | HABS GAME 2 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

An early lead for the Habs was enough for the Habs to win the all-important game one. Almost everyone for the Habs played great and carried over momentum from round one. The bad news, the Habs almost blew another lead as the Jets came within one goal once again. As the game was coming to a close Mark Scheifele delivered a reckless hit on Jake Evans who had to be carried off on a stretcher. The NHL has announced four game suspension for Scheifele. Evans will be out indefinitely.

Last game: MTL 5  WPG 3 | Canadiens lead series 1-0

For a complete game recap: Canadiens @ Jets: Habs Take Opener | GAME 1 RECAP

Players to Watch

  • Joel Edmundson
    Edmundson played a strong game but made controversial comments about the hit. The series is going to heat up and tempers are going to boil over. Edmundson will be sure in the thick of things but he has to be careful as he is a vital piece to this Habs defense at the moment.
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi
    Kotkaniemi is one goal away from tying Wayne Gretzky and Connor McDavid for playoff goals before turning the age of 21. Kotkaniemi should have lots of opportunity to achieve that mark as the Jets are missing their top two centres and he needs to show that he is ready for big minutes.
  • Alexander Romanov
    In game one, Erik Gustafsson was taken off the power-play and didn’t get a shift in the third period. Many fans expected that meant Alexander Romanov would finally get a shot. But he won’t, which is a very questionable decision by Dominique Ducharme.

Keys to Victory

  • Stayed focused
    The suspension to Mark Scheifele may prevent further bad blood and help to avoid this series getting ugly. The Habs have to focus and know that the best way to get revenge is to put the Jets away early.
  • Control the middle
    The Jets will likely be without with their top two centers and top-pairing defenceman. This is an excellent opportunity for the Habs to control the flow of the game. The question is can the Habs young centres take over when given the opportunity?
  • Hold a lead
    For the first time all season the Habs have won four games in a row. In each of the wins, they started with an early lead but lost it. This can’t keep happening as eventually the Habs are going to end up on the losing end of the game.
Statistical Matchup for Round 2, Game 2
Bell MTS Place, Winnipeg, MB | June 4, 7:30 PM ET | TV: CBC, SN, TVAS, NBCSN

2020-21 Playoff statistics
JETS CANADIENS
— Points (rank) —
4-1 Record 5-3
– Last 10 –
23.1 (7th) PP% (rank) 17.4 (12th)
80.0 (7th) PK% (rank) 88.5 (1st)
53.5 Faceoff% 49.7
3.40 GF/G 2.38
2.60 GA/G 2.63
44.56  CF% 48.78
Pre-game Quotes
Shea Weber
  • “We’re done talking about the hit. We’re missing a player and they’re missing a player. On to Game 2 here and getting going tonight.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Connor – Dubois – Wheeler
Perreault – Copp – Ehlers
Vesalainen – Lowry – Appleton
Harkins – Thompson – Lewis		 Lehkonen – Danault – Gallagher
Toffoli – Suzuki – Caufield
Byron – Kotkaniemi – Anderson
Perry – Staal – Armia
Defensemen
Morrissey – Poolman
Forbort – Pionk
Stanley – Benn		 Chiarot – Weber
Edmundson – Petry
Kulak – Gustafsson
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Niku, Heinola, Toninato
Injured: DeMelo, Stastny
Suspended: Scheifele		 Scratched: Frolik, Romanov, Lindgren, Tatar
Injured: Evans (concussion), Drouin (undisclosed), Merrill (undisclosed)
Goalies
Connor Hellebuyck Carey Price
Record: 4-1
GAA: 2.01
Sv%: .937
SO: 1
Alternate: Laurent Brossoit		 Record: 5-3
GAA: 2.33
Sv%: .928
SO: 0
Alternate: Jake Allen
 Game Expectations
Jake Evans made a significant impact on the top line for the Habs but they should not miss a beat with Artturi Lehkonen drawing in. The suspension to Mark Scheifele is a bigger loss for the Jets, and they will also look to be without Paul Stastny and Dylan DeMelo. The Jets are going to do everything they can to stay in the series and have the forward group to do so. That said, the Habs need to attack and be relentless. Injuries start to pile up in the playoffs and often when it comes to the playoffs sometimes it’s the team that stays healthy who prevails.

Bottom Line

The Habs need to take a stranglehold on the series and need to rally behind the injury to Evans. They have an excellent chance to do so and this has to be one of the most motivated games the Habs have played all season.
 Video Highlights

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