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Canadiens @ Lightning: Entering the SCF Fray | HABS GAME 1 PREVIEW

Rick Stephens

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

Game Preview

SCF Preview

The Habs have done the improbable and now they are four wins away from winning the Stanley Cup, but to get there, they have to go through the defending champions. It’s going to be an uphill battle as the Habs are once again the underdogs. The Lightning are a deep team who know how to win and are prepared to go back to back. The Habs are going to need to rise the occasion with several players going above expectations to have a chance of becoming champions. The Habs know it doesn’t matter what they have accomplished if they can’t finish it and the team has a ton of belief that they can get it done.

Last game: MTL 3  VGK 2 (OT) | Canadiens win series 4-2

For a complete game recap: Golden Knights @ Canadiens: A Ticket to the Stanley Cup Final | HABS GAME 6 RECAP

Players to Watch

  • Carey Price
    The Habs will be going up against the best offense in the NHL and are going to need Price to keep them in every game and likely steal a game or two. Price has been outstanding these playoffs.
  • Phillip Danault
    Three points in seventeen games is not why Danault is going to be a difference maker. The Danault line will be tasked with shutting down Brayden Point who has scored in ten straight games. If Danault can do his part, including contributing offensively, the Habs will be happy matching their depth with the Lightning.
  • Cole Caufield 
    It’s almost impossible to believe that the Habs are depending on a twenty year-old who was playing college hockey a few months ago but Caufield continues to perform and is a huge reason this team has made it this far. Caufield is about to be tested. The Lightning are going to play him hard and make him uncomfortable. Caufield rising to the challenge could be a deciding factor in this series.

Keys to Victory

  • Stay disciplined
    A big reason the Habs have made it this far has been their ability to play on the edge but remain disciplined. As soon the Habs cross that line they will be playing with fire, even if they have a red hot on penalty kill, they may not want to test that against Tampa’s power-play.
  • Get net front presence
    The Habs have played several great goalies so far but none can steal a game like Andrei Vasilevskiy. The Habs know they have to make his life miserable and be parked in the blue paint every chance they get to disrupt him. Look for Brendan Gallagher and Corey Perry to be key players but it will take every player willing to go to the dirty areas and sacrifice the body in order to get to Vasilevskiy.
  • Stick to the game plan
    A lot has been said that the Lightning are comfortable playing any style of game. That said they haven’t played the Habs. Montreal know they have to stick to exactly what they have done to the Leafs, Jets and Knights. The Lightning aren’t likely to get as frustrated but if the Habs stick with the game plan and it works, it will affect the Lightning and that is when the Habs can capitalize.
Statistical Matchup for Stanley Cup Final, Game 1
Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL | June 28, 8:00 PM ET | TV: CBC, SN, TVAS, NBCSN

2020-21 Playoff statistics
LIGHTNING CANADIENS
— Points (rank) —
12-6 Record 12-5
– Last 10 –
37.7 (2nd) PP% (rank) 20.9 (7th)
83.0 (4th) PK% (rank) 93.5 (1st)
47.7 Faceoff% 49.2
3.22 GF/G 2.53
2.06 GA/G 2.18
48.26  CF% 47.83
Pre-game Quotes
Josh Anderson
  • “There’s going to be a lot of emotion going into the first game. It’s so important. You’re going to see a tight and close game. It’ll be physical out there. But, you’ve got to be smart at the same time and you’ve got to pick your opportunities to go into those areas. We’re excited for the opportunity. We’ve got a lot of energy in our locker room and a lot of confidence. I think it’s going to be a long series. It’s going to be fun to watch and play.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Palat – Point – Kucherov
Killorn – Cirelli – Stamkos
Goodrow – Gourde – Coleman
Maroon – Johnson – Colton		 Lehkonen – Danault – Gallagher
Toffoli – Suzuki – Caufield
Byron – Kotkaniemi – Anderson
Perry – Staal – Armia
Defensemen
Hedman – Rutta
McDonagh – Cernak
Sergachev – Savard		 Chiarot – Weber
Edmundson – Petry
Gustafsson – Merrill
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Smith, Schenn
Injured:		 Scratched: Frolik, Lindgren, Tatar, Ouellet, Kulak, Romanov, Evans
Injured: Drouin (undisclosed)
COVID protocol: Ducharme
Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy Carey Price
Record: 12-6
GAA: 1.99
Sv%: .936
SO: 4
Alternate: Curtis McElhinney		 Record: 12-5
GAA: 2.02
Sv%: .934
SO: 1
Alternate: Jake Allen
 Game Expectations
The Habs may get a wake up call as the Lightning are going to send a message early that they are the defending champions. The Habs are blessed to have several veteran players that want this more than anything. While the Lightning want nothing more than to repeat they have Shea Weber and Carey Price in their way. Both players know this could be their one and only chance at the Stanley Cup and are going to everything in their power to get it.

Bottom Line

The Habs have to outsmart the Lightning as they are out skilled by the Lightning. This is going to take a full team effort, sacrificing everything to bring the Stanley Cup home to Canada.
 Video Highlights

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