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Desperate for a Win | PREVIEW: CAR @ MTL

Sam Gerber

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

The struggles continued for the Habs as they gave up three goals early and never managed to generate any offense to make the game interesting. Not only were the Habs shutout, but they barely managed 21 shots, proving the effort level is clearly not there. It might be too early to hit the panic button but the Habs desperately need to wake up.

Last game: MTL 0  SJS 5  F

For a complete game recap: Frustrations Spilling Over | RECAP: SJS @ MTL

Players to Watch

  • Christian Dvorak
    Dvorak has a single point in his first four games with the Habs. It hasn’t been a great start but Dvorak can be a game breaker for the Habs and they need him to find his game fast.
  • Mathieu Perreault
    Perreault will play his first game at centre this season. While he has lost a step, Perreault has a lot of experience and knows the position well. He will try to overcome the struggles the Habs have faced down the middle so far this season.
  • Jeff Petry
    No points in four games for the Habs best defenceman is a big issue. Petry has a lot of pressure on him this season with the absence of Shea Weber. Petry knows his game is being a puck-mover and his ability to join the rush. If Petry can find his game it should spark the offense.

Keys to Victory

  • Create offence
    The offense has struggled so far this season with only three goals in four games. None of the lines are clicking, and it may be only a matter of time until the Habs find their scoring touch. Another low-scoring game for the Habs will be troublesome.
  • Bring an effort
    High-end skill rarely beats all out effort, and for the Habs to win tonight they will need to out work every single Canes player. The Habs want to be a hard working team but haven’t shown it and frustrations will start to boil over if they don’t have the effort tonight.
  • Play the system
    The Canes are a sound team in all three positions and will look to push the pace and capitalize on turnovers. For the Habs to be successful tonight, they have to shut that down and make this a tight checking game with sound defense. 
Statistical Matchup for Game 5
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | October 21, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+

2021-22  statistics
HURRICANES CANADIENS
4 (13th) Points (rank) 0 (32nd)
2-0-0 Record 0-4-0
1-0-0 Away/Home 0-2-0
2-0-0 Last 10 0-4-0
4.50 GF/G 0.75
2.50 GA/G 3.75
22.2 (14th) PP% (rank) 00.0 (31st)
100.0 (2nd) PK% (rank) 58.8 (29th)
55.38  CF% 50.63
Pre-game Quotes
Dominique Ducharme
  • “There are 78 games left, we don’t panic, but we know it’s time to open the machine. And that’s what we’re going to do.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Kotkaniemi – Aho – Teravainen
Svechnikov – Trocheck – Necas
Niederreiter – Staal – Fast
Martinook – Stepan – Lorentz		 Hoffman – Suzuki – Gallagher
Drouin – Dvorak – Anderson
Toffoli – Perreault – Caufield
Lehkonen – Evans – Armia
Defensemen
Slavin – Bear
Skjei – Pesce
Cole – DeAngelo		 Kulak – Petry
Chiarot – Wideman
Romanov – Savard
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Gelinas, Smith, Jarvis
Injured: none
 Scratched: Niku, Brooks, Paquette
Injured: Edmundson (family), Norlinder (lower-body), Price (player assistance program), Byron (hip), Weber (multiple injuries)
Goalies
Frederik Andersen Jake Allen
Record: 2-0-0
GAA: 2.50
Sv%: .926
SO: 0
Alternate: Antti Raanta		 Record: 0-3-0
GAA: 3.05
Sv%: .885
SO: 0
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
Things don’t look too good for the Habs as one of their newest rivals come to town rested and undefeated. The biggest story line will be around Jesperi Kotkaniemi who signed an offer sheet with the Canes in the offseason and will be playing his first game against the Habs. Fans will surely let him know how they feel but for the Habs they need to win this game and can’t get caught up in the emotion of the game.

Bottom Line

The Habs have an uphill battle tonight and need to find a way to steal a win tonight.
 Video Highlights

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