Caufield Returns | PREVIEW: PIT @ MTL

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

Game Preview (with contributions from Cole Jurzyniec)

A Look Back

Cayden Primeau made his first start of the season with Jake Allen suffering from a concussion. Primeau gave up a soft goal when he slid out of position but overall played an admirable game. Christian Dvorak had one of the better games of his season with a goal and an assist. Michael Pezzetta made a mistake chasing a fight with Ryan Reaves turning momentum in New York’s favor.

Last game: MTL 2  NYR 3  F

For a complete game recap: ‘Didn’t Work Hard Enough’ | RECAP: MTL @ NYR

Players to Watch

  • Jake Evans
    Evans has found a home centering Artturi Lehkonen and Joel Armia. The trio has been the most consistently effective shutdown line for the Habs this season becoming the go-to group for Dominique Ducharme.
  • Joel Armia
    Armia has been the Canadiens best defensive forward both 5-on-5 and while shorthanded. Playing just over 14 minutes per game Armia has also chipped in on offence with a goal and two assists.
  • Mattias Norlinder
    Norlinder will make his NHL debut against the Penguins. The 21-year-old played three games in Laval after recovering from an undisclosed injury to get game action and to continue to adjust to the smaller ice surface.

Keys to Victory

  • Test early
    The Penguins have lost three straight with goaltending being a question mark this season. The Canadiens need to get to Tristan Jarry early in this game. Jarry has a 2-1-0 record, 2.34 GAA and a .913 Sv% in three career starts against Montreal.
  • Limit chances
    The Penguins like to shoot the puck. Pittsburgh enters this game averaging 35.3 shots per game, the second-highest total in the league. The Canadiens must play well positionally in their own zone to support Cayden Primeau.
  • Defend snipers
    Sidney Crosby loves to play in Montreal and will be looking for his first goal in his fourth game of the season. Jake Guentzel has five points in his last two games against Montreal.
Statistical Matchup for Game 19
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | November 18, 7:00 PM ET | TV: RDS, TSN2, ESPN+, ATTSN-PIT

2021-22  statistics
PENGUINS CANADIENS
14 (24th) Points (rank) 10 (29th)
5-6-4 Record 4-12-2
L3 Streak L2
2-6-2 Last 10 2-6-2
2.73 (31st) GF/G (rank) 2.11 (31st)
2.87 (31st) GA/G (rank) 3.39 (28th)
10.0 (32nd) PP% (rank) 13.8 (29th)
87.8 (2nd) PK%  (rank) 72.1 (29th)
50.7  Faceoff % 47.5
Pre-game Quotes
Nick Suzuki

  • “It’s definitely challenging. [Sidney Crosby] is a different player than some of the other superstars from around the league.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Guentzel – Crosby – Rust
Zucker – Carter – Kapanen
Aston-Reece – Blueger – McGinn
Heinen – Rodrigues – Simon		 Toffoli – Suzuki – Caufield
Drouin – Dvorak – Anderson
Armia – Evans – Gallagher
Pezzetta – Poehling – Lehkonen
Defensemen
Dumoulin – Letang
Pettersson – Marino
Matheson – Ruhwedel		 Chiarot – Petry
Romanov – Kulak
Norlinder – Savard
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Lafferty, Friedman, Boyle
Injured: Malkin		 Scratched: Niku, Wideman
Injured: Allen (concussion), Paquette (undisclosed), Hoffman (upper body), Perreault (eye), Edmundson (lower-body), Price (knee), Byron (hip), Weber (multiple injuries)
Goalies
Tristan Jarry Cayden Primeau
tristan jarry primeau56
Record: 5-4-3
GAA: 2.52
Sv%: .917
SO: 0
Alternate: Casey DeSmith		 Record: 0-1-0
GAA: 3.00
Sv%: .912
SO: 0
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
The Canadiens and Penguins each find themselves near the bottom of the league in terms of goals for, goals against and power-play. In addition both teams are currently riding a three-game losing streak.

Bottom Line

In what could be a sloppy, mistake-filled game, the Canadiens must start strong and force the Penguins to make turnovers.
 Video Highlights

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