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Drouin Returns | PREVIEW: OTT @ MTL

Cole Jurzyniec

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

Corey Schueneman scored his first career NHL goal. Cole Caufield continues to find mesh. Stars defenceman John Klingberg forced overtime late in the third, and in heartbreaking fashion, also scored the game winner with nine seconds remaining on the clock.

Last game: MTL 3  DAL 4  F/OT

For a complete game recap: Falling Short | RECAP: DAL @ MTL

Players to Watch

  • Christian Dvorak
    It was an up and down return to the lineup by Dvorak. Christian put up an impressive 73 percent success rate at the dot. But Dvorak struggled at 5-on-5 as the Stars dominated shot attempts 15-6 when he was on the ice.
  • Chris Wideman
    The 23-year-old defenseman has found some production in the last three games, posting four assists. Wideman is relied on to generate production leading all Habs defencemen with an offensive zone start rate of 64.63 percent.
  • Jonathan Drouin
    Drouin is expected to return to the lineup after missing 22 games with a wrist injury. Drouin will replace Brendan Gallagher who is day-to-day with a lower-body injury suffered against Dallas.

Keys to Victory

  • Win special teams
    The Canadiens have found the net with the man-advantage in their past three games. Without Ryan Poehling in the lineup, they will need other players to go to the net to create screens and find rebounds.
  • Focus on defence
    Although offense has been thriving, the Canadiens have allowed too much open ice for their opponents. The Habs have allowed 21 goals in their past five matchups.  With Ottawa struggling to generate offence, it is the perfect time to return to strong defensive play.
  • Shoot smartly
    The Canadiens have created more than 30 shots in each of their past four games. The focus now has to be on getting more second chance opportunities.
Statistical Matchup for Game 62
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | March 19, 7:00 PM ET | TV: SN360, CITY, SNE, TVAS, ESPN+

2021-22  statistics
SENATORS CANADIENS
49 (27th) Points (rank) 41 (32nd)
22-34-5 Record 16-36-9
W1 Streak OT1
3-7-0 Last 10 5-3-2
2.62 (26th) GF/G (rank) 2.48 (32nd)
3.25 (23rd) GA/G (rank) 3.82 (32nd)
18.3 (23rd) PP% (rank) 13.5 (31st)
80.3 (14th) PK%  (rank) 74.3 (29th)
48.7  Faceoff % 47.9
Pre-game Quotes
Martin St. Louis on Carey Price
  • “Players like that have a presence. Being on the ice with Carey Price, just as a coach, it’s something special, and I know it’s special for the players, too. He’s a very proven player in this League. He’s a veteran, and it’s fun to have him back on the ice with the team.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Tkachuk – Norris – C. Brown
Formenton – Stutzle – Ennis
Paul – White – Sanford
Gaudette – Tierney – Watson		 Caufield – Suzuki – Anderson
Drouin – R. Pitlick – Hoffman
Lehkonen – Dvorak – Armia
Pezzetta – Evans – Byron
Defensemen
Brannstrom – Zub
Holden – Zaitsev
Mete – Brown		 Edmundson – Petry
Romanov – Kulak
Schueneman – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Gambrell
Injured: Batherson, Pinto, Murray, Chabot		 Scratched: Dauphin
Injured: Gallagher (lower-body),  Poehling (upper-body), Clague (upper-body), Hammond (lower-body), T. Pitlick (undisclosed), Savard (ankle), Price (knee), Weber (multiple injuries)
Goalies
Filip Gustavsson Jake Allen
Record: 3-10-1
GAA: 3.69
Sv%: .890
SO: 0
Alternate: Anton Forsberg		 Record: 5-16-3
GAA: 3.18
Sv%: .900
SO: 2
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
This is the second meeting of the season for these two divisional rivals. The Canadiens beat the Senators 2-1 on February 26th with Artturi Lehkonen leading his team to victory.

Bottom Line

The Canadiens have lost four of the last five games and are winless after two games of their six-game home stand.
 Video Highlights

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