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Desperate for a Win | PREVIEW: STL @ MTL

Sam Gerber

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

It was an evenly matched game that remained tied after two periods. The Habs had their chances but weren’t able to beat Craig Anderson in the third period. Jeff Skinner finished the game with four goals, two in the third. Since the coaching change the Habs have been more enjoyable to watch but haven’t been able to find the win column.

Last game: MTL 3  BUF 5 F

For a complete game recap: 10th Straight Loss | RECAP: BUF @ MTL

Players to Watch

  • Nick Suzuki
    With the trade of Tyler Toffoli, Suzuki will see Josh Anderson as a new linemate. The Habs have to be careful with Suzuki as his development has been affected due to the absence of a veteran center on the club. That said, Suzuki is arguably the best player on the Habs and has a bright future.
  • Paul Byron
    Byron will play his 500th NHL game tonight at the Bell Centre. The 32-year-old said that the milestone is “an incredibly proud moment.” Byron emphasized his preference to remain in Montreal but it has to be tempting for Kent Hughes to try to move his bad contract.
  • Laurent Dauphin
    With the trade of Tyler Toffoli, Dauphin will return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for three games. The AHL veteran has two goals in 16 games for the Habs and has struggled defensively recording 4.8 goals against per 60, second worst on the team.

Keys to Victory

  • Score first
    Once again the Habs need to have a strong start. Too many times they have given up the first goal and the Habs have had no answer. Getting that first goal won’t be easy as the Blues are eighth in goals against this season.
  • Use speed
    The Blues are a big body team but have several players with speed, including Jordan Kyrou who won the fastest skater award at the recent All Star competition. The Habs have to be ready for a physical battle but will need to use their speed just as much in order to counter the Blues.
  • Stay disciplined
    The Habs will have to be careful not to take many penalties as the Blues have the league’s second best power-play.
Statistical Matchup for Game 49
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | February 17, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, BSMW

2021-22  statistics
BLUES CANADIENS
61 (10th) Points (rank) 23 (32nd)
28-14-5 Record 8-33-7
W2 Streak L8
6-4-0 Last 10 0-8-2
3.51 (5th) GF/G (rank) 2.19 (32nd)
2.75 (8th) GA/G (rank) 3.98 (32nd)
27.7 (2nd) PP% (rank) 13.5 (31st)
83.9 (5th) PK%  (rank) 73.3 (30th)
49.3  Faceoff % 48.1
Pre-game Quotes
Kent Hughes
  • “Right now, we’re in last place in the NHL. We want to improve the team. We want to build a team that can win year after year.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Saad – O’Reilly – Perron
Buchnevich – Thomas – Tarasenko
Schenn – Barbashev – Kyrou
Kostin – Joshua – Sundqvist		 Caufield – Suzuki – Anderson
Pitlick – Evans – Byron
Lehkonen – Poehling – Armia
Hoffman – Dauphin – Gallagher
Defensemen
Mikkola – Parayko
Krug – Faulk
Walman – Bortuzzo		 Kulak – Petry
Romanov – Schueneman
Clague – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Bozak, Brown
Injured: Scandella		 Scratched: Paquette, Pezzetta
Injured: Chiarot (lower-body), Dvorak (upper-body), Savard (ankle), Allen (lower-body), Drouin (wrist), Perreault (lower-body), Edmundson (back), Price (knee), Weber (multiple injuries)
Goalies
Ville Husso Sam Montembeault
Record: 11-3-1
GAA: 1.85
Sv%: .939
SO: 2
Alternate: Jordan Binnington		 Record: 2-10-4
GAA: 3.92
Sv%: .894
SO: 0
Alternate: Andrew Hammond
 Game Expectations
This will be a game the Habs have to rise to the challenge, the Blues are a stronger and deeper team that desperately need two points to stay ahead of the Wild Card teams. With the Toffoli trade already happened many players know that business decisions will be made over the next few months but that will be a wake up call. It will be hard not to be distracted but if the Habs can focus on the game they might just be able to surprise the Blues and get the win. 

Bottom Line

The Habs need to win a few games, it’s been a disastrous season and they only have eight wins this season.
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