Canucks @ Canadiens: Allen to Start | HABS PREVIEW

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Sam Gerber
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Vancouver

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

Game Preview

A Look Back

The Habs allowed Kyle Connor to score twice again but played a strong third period to force overtime. The comeback was short lived as the Habs faltered again in overtime making that eight straight overtime/shootouts that they have lost.

Last game: MTL 3  WPG  4  F/OT

For a complete game recap: Canadiens @ Jets: Habs Fall Short

Players to Watch

  • Jake Allen
    Allen has played reasonably well but has lost his last five starts with his last win coming on February 6th. Allen will need a strong game tonight combined with some goal support for a win.
  • Tyler Toffoli
    Toffoli is currently third in the league in goals and has some pretty impressive company at the top. He has three goals in his last two games and has had a lot of luck against his former team.
  • Brett Kulak
    Kulak had his best game of the season against Winnipeg. Kulak has always been a player who is different when he has confidence and that was on full display last game, hopefully that continues tonight.

Keys to Victory

  • Get off to a good start
    Habs haven’t managed to score first lately and they are a completely different team when they don’t. A quick one early will help them a ton.
  • Shoot the puck
    Tonight should be a night the Habs make Thatcher Demko work, with it being a back to back the Habs need to make sure they don’t see him twice.
  • Win special teams
    Special teams have been important against the Canucks this season and it is expected that they will be big again tonight.
Statistical Matchup
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | March 19, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, TSN3, RDS, ESPN+

2020-21 statistics
CANUCKS CANADIENS
32 (17th) Points (rank) 34 (14th)
15-16-2 Record 13-8-8
6-9-0 Away/Home 5-5-1
7-3-0 Last 10 4-2-4
2.70 GF/G 3.21
3.15 GA/G 2.66
20.0 (19th) PP% (rank) 21.5 (14th)
81.2 (10th) PK% (rank) 76.7 (19th)
46.98  CF% 55.07
Pre-game Quotes
Dominique Ducharme

  • “I like the way we’ve progressed in our system. I like the way we’ve progressed without the puck. I find that we’re lacking a bit of consistency with the puck, though. We talked a lot about support, so we can give the puck carrier options. We have to execute better. I find that we’re better positioned without the puck and we provide good options. Now, we have to make better decisions and execute better.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Hoglander – Horvat – Boeser
Vesey – Miller – Virtanen
Motte – Sutter – Hawryluk
Roussel – Gaudette – MacEwen		 Drouin – Kotkaniemi – Anderson
Toffoli – Suzuki – Armia
Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Byron – Evans – Perry
Defensemen
Edler – Schmidt
Hughes – Hamonic
Benn – Myers		 Edmundson – Weber
Kulak – Petry
Romanov – Ouellet
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Chatfield, Beagle
Injured: Ferland, Bailey, Pettersson, Pearson
 Scratched: Lehkonen, Mete
Injured: Chiarot (hand)
Goalies
Thatcher Demko Jake Allen
Record: 11-10-1
GAA: – 2.69
Sv%: – .920
SO: 1
Alternate: Braden Holtby		 Record: 4-3-3
GAA: – 2.28
Sv%: – .922
SO: 0
Alternate: Carey Price
 Game Expectations
The Canucks have won six of their last seven games with their only loss coming from the Habs. The Canucks are now only two points back of the Habs for fourth in the division and that final playoff spot.

Bottom Line

The Habs do have a few games in hand but a regulation win would be a big four point swing for the Habs.
 Video Highlights

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