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Debut for Barron | PREVIEW: MTL @ NJD

Cole Jurzyniec

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

Jake Allen was peppered with 51 shots from the offensively-minded Leafs, but managed to lead the team to victory. Auston Matthew’s scored 36 seconds into the game.  David  Savard opened the second period with a goal. Paul Byron scored with 2:28 left in the third for the game-winner.

Last game: MTL 4  TOR 2  F

For a complete game recap: Habs Shock Leafs | RECAP: TOR @ MTL

Players to Watch

  • Paul Byron
    Byron had a slow start with his return from injury, but now is rounding into form. Byron has five points in his last four games, three of those being goals. After scoring the game-winning goal against the Leafs, Byron should continue to play with confidence.
  • Justin Barron
    Barron was a key trade deadline acquisition by the Canadiens adding a right-handed shot to the stable of defensive prospects. Barron played two games in the NHL this season with Colorado and will be making his Canadiens debut.
  • Nick Suzuki
    The 22-year-old centerman will be looking for his 50th point of the season tonight, a season high for the young stud. His faceoff percentage is gradually growing as the years pass.  His current 49.2 percent is his season high in his third year with the team.

Keys to Victory

  • Limit shots on goal
    The Canadiens are 30th in the league for allowing the most shots. After a 49 save performance from Allen, the Habs should shift their focus on keeping the puck out of their own zone.
  • Score first
    In back to back games, the Canadiens have allowed a goal in the opening 36 seconds.  They need to shut down teams early, score first, and hold on to the lead.
  • Stay disciplined
    The Habs are 28th in the league for penalty minutes at an astounding average of 10.2 minutes a game.  They’ve allowed three powerplay goals in their past four, and have been stuck short-handed for 36 minutes over those games.
Statistical Matchup for Game 66
Prudential Center, Newark, NJ | March 27, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, MSG, ESPN+

2021-22  statistics
DEVILS CANADIENS
51 (29th) Points (rank) 46 (31st)
23-37-5 Record 18-37-10
L2 Streak W1
4-6-0 Last 10 4-3-3
3.05 (17th) GF/G (rank) 2.54 (32nd)
3.59 (29th) GA/G (rank) 3.74 (32nd)
17.9 (26th) PP% (rank) 14.2 (30th)
80.6 (12th) PK%  (rank) 74.7 (28th)
47.4  Faceoff % 48.4
Pre-game Quotes
David Savard
  • “We had a difficult start to the season, but we can see how talented the group is. We can compete against any team and I want to be part of it.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Sharangovich – Hughes – Mercer
Tatar – Hischier – Bratt
Johnsson – Boqvist – Vesey
Greer – McLeod – Bastian		 Caufield – Suzuki – Anderson
R. Pitlick – Evans – Hoffman
Byron  – Dvorak – Armia
Perreault – Dauphin – Ylonen
Defensemen
Siegenthaler – Hamilton
Graves – Severson
Bahl – Subban		 Romanov – Savard
Barron – Edmundson
Schueneman – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched:
Injured: Wood, Bernier, Blackwood, Zacha, Kuokkanen, Hammond		 Scratched:
Injured: Pezzetta (upper-body), T. Pitlick (upper-body), Petry (lower-body), Drouin (upper-body), Gallagher (lower-body), Poehling (upper-body), Clague (upper-body), Price (knee), Weber (multiple injuries)
Goalies
Jon Gillies Sam Montembeault
Record: 3-10-1
GAA: 3.73
Sv%: .887
SO: 0
Alternate: Nico Daws		 Record: 7-13-5
GAA: 3.71
Sv%: .894
SO: 1
Alternate: Jake Allen
 Game Expectations
Coming off a two game losing streak, the Devils and familiar faces, such as Tomas Tatar and P.K Subban, will be looking to repeat their last appearance when they dismantled the Canadiens at home 7-1.

Bottom Line

After a slippery win against Toronto, the Canadiens are simply looking to close out the season on a positive note and scrounge together more wins. They’ll also be welcoming a new face in the name of Justin Barron.
 Video Highlights

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