Dach, Gallagher Return | PREVIEW: TBL @ MTL

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Cole Jurzyniec
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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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

The Canadiens gave the Bolts a run for their money, keeping the match relatively close with Mike Hoffman finding two points, Denis Gurianov finding mesh for the seventh time this season, and Jesse Ylönen contributing on the powerplay. Tampa Bay came out strong in the third period however, shutting the Habs down and scoring three unanswered goals to come out with a win at home.

Last game: MTL 3  TBL 5  F

For a complete game recap: Hat Trick for Hagel | RECAP: MTL @ TBL

Players to Watch

  • Denis Gurianov
    The 6-foot-3-inch Russian winger is certainly not floundering his opportunity with the Canadiens. There were many question marks on his arrival to the club but with his new team, he has managed to find some production. He has five points in the last six games (4G-1A). Through 11 games, his six total points with the Habs has nearly tied his nine points in 43 games with the Stars, a substantial difference.
  • Mike Hoffman
    The Kitchener native has been hot and cold all season. After Saturday night’s tilt, Hoffman was able to pot one and add an apple to boot, now tallying 29 points in 56 games played. It’s hard to imagine seeing the sharp-shooter in a Canadiens sweater next season, but he’ll be wanting to finish the season strong regardless.
  • Nick Suzuki
    It’s been a tough season for the captain losing a few key pieces in the line-up, however he’s on pace to match his point total of 61 from last season. He picked up a couple of assists on Saturday night and contributed a few more a couple nights prior to that. Suzuki will be looking to close out a lackluster season on a high note.

Keys to Victory

  • Closing out strong
    The Habs had a prime opportunity to shut down a strong squad in Tampa. Tonight, they’ll have a second shot at home and finding third period momentum will be a key factor in closing out the match.
  • Be aggressive
    The Canadiens had a staggering 37 hits to the Lightnings 21 which was an obvious game breaker in Saturdays match. Continuing to apply the pressure by using the body will be necessary in controlling the pace.
  • Find shooting lanes
    Tampa Bay had nearly double the shots with 41 to the Canadiens 21, putting pucks on net even for rebounds will greatly increase their chances of finding mesh against a Vezina caliber goaltender in Andrei Vasilevskiy.
Statistical Matchup for Game 71
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | March 21, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, BSSUN

2022-23  statistics
LIGHTNING CANADIENS
90 (8th) Points (rank) 60 (28th)
42-23-6 Record 27-37-6
L1 Streak L2
5-4-1 Last 10 1-7-2
3.45 (7th) GF/G (rank) 2.77 (27th)
3.04 (13th) GA/G (rank) 3.71 (29th)
25.3 (3rd) PP% (rank) 16.7 (29th)
79.6 (16th) PK% (rank) 72.3 (30th)
51.8  Faceoff % 48.8
Pre-game 
Brendan Gallagher

  • “The injuries that we’ve had seem to be unpreventable and just kind of bad luck situations and while yeah, it’s part of the sport but just unfortunate it hit us so hard in back-to-back years.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Hagel – Point – Kucherov
Killorn – Cirelli – Jeannot
Colton – Stamkos – Paul
Maroon – Eyssimont – Perry		 Harvey-Pinard – Suzuki – Dach
Gurianov – Drouin – Anderson
Hoffman – Belzile – Gallagher
Pezzetta – Tierney – Pitlick
Defensemen
Hedman – Perbix
Sergachev – Raddysh
Cole – Cernak		 Matheson – Savard
Edmundson – Barron
Kovacevic – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Fleury, Bogosian, Bellemare
Injured: none		 Scratched: none
Injured: Byron (hip), Price (knee), Monahan (lower-body), Evans (lower-body), Slafkovsky (lower-body), Caufield (shoulder), Xhekaj (upper-body), Armia (illness), Dvorak (lower-body), Harris (lower-body), Guhle (lower-body), Ylonen (illness)
Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy Sam Montembeault
Vasilevskiy
Record: 31-18-4
GAA: 2.70
Sv%: .914
SO: 2
Alternate: Brian Elliott		 Record: 13-14-3
GAA: 3.36
Sv%: .904
SO: 0
Alternate: Jake Allen
 Game Expectations
The tensions were high in their previous matchup. If the Canadiens can bring a little more energy to home ice, they have a chance at two points, another deflating third period however, will only bring the same poor results as Saturday.  Apply pressure early, remain consistent and defend the fort to close out the game.

Bottom Line

With 12 games remaining in the regular season, the Canadiens are cozy in 28th place. Overall, at this point in the season, win or losses shouldn’t have an adverse effect on their chances at a dominant draft pick, but a few more wins certainly wouldn’t hurt as they cross the finish line after a tough season.
 Video Highlights

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