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Drouin to Face Bolts | PREVIEW: MTL @ TBL

Cole Jurzyniec

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

Former Panther Mike Matheson gave the Habs a swift lead opening the game with a quick snipe 16 seconds into the match. It was a back and forth tilt with the Habs scoring all three of their goals on three shots but did not benefit the team as Florida set a franchise record Thursday night scoring seven goals in the first period, forcing the Canadiens to switch between their net-minders three times throughout the game. Rem Pitlick and Rafael Harvey-Pinard added a tally late but was no help as the Habs fell to a score of 9-5.

Last game: MTL 5  FLA 9  F

For a complete game recap: Crushed in Florida | RECAP: MTL @ FLA

Players to Watch

  • Mike Matheson
    Despite a tough loss against his former team, the Quebec native was able to electrify the team with a goal early on. With his offensively-minded play, he’s managed to scrounge together seven points in the last 10 games (3G-4A), and although he adds offense to the back-end, the main focus should be teaching the rookies the basics of what it takes to be an NHL defender, not focused on producing offensively.
  • Rafael Harvey-Pinard
    The 24-year-old winger found net Thursday night and added an assist against Pittsburgh on Tuesday evening after a long nine game point drought, finding a single goal within that period. With two points in his last two, Harvey-Pinard could be finding some rhythm.
  • Josh Anderson
    Number 17 gets lost in the mix of talent on the team but certainly comes with an edge and has not missed a beat the last five games. The 28-year-old power forward has contributed five points in the last five games (3G-2A). He’s on pace to having his second best season in the NHL through 9 seasons.

Keys to Victory

  • Keep the puck out
    A point with multiple meanings; keep the puck out of the defensive zone but more importantly the net. After a dazzling nine goals against, defense and goaltending should be addressed prior to the Tampa Bay matchup.
  • Play shut-down hockey
    The Tampa Bay Lighting are a force to be reckoned with having six players with 50 plus points and the rest of the team with double digits, minus three rostered players. Defensive hockey will need to be a focus to have a chance in this match.
  • Lean on leadership
    After a brutal loss in Sunrise, Florida the veterans and leaders on the team need to use this as a learning opportunity to teach the young up and comers the values of taking a loss and finding confidence for the next game.
Statistical Matchup for Game 70
Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL | March 18, 7:00 PM ET | TV: CITY, SNE, TVAS, ESPN+, BSSUN

2022-23  statistics
LIGHTNING CANADIENS
88 (8th) Points (rank) 60 (28th)
41-22-6 Record 27-36-6
W2 Streak L1
4-4-2 Last 10 2-6-2
3.45 (7th) GF/G (rank) 2.77 (28th)
3.01 (14th) GA/G (rank) 3.70 (28th)
25.5 (3rd) PP% (rank) 16.3 (30th)
79.8 (15th) PK% (rank) 72.5 (30th)
51.8  Faceoff % 49.0
Pre-game 
Marty St. Louis on Jonathan Drouin
  • “He’s going to be dressed.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Hagel – Point – Kucherov
Killorn – Cirelli – Jeannot
Colton – Stamkos – Paul
Maroon – Bellemare – Perry		 Harvey-Pinard – Suzuki – Ylonen
Gurianov – Tierney – Anderson
Pitlick – Belzile – Hoffman
Drouin – Richard – Pezzetta
Defensemen
Hedman – Perbix
Sergachev – Cernak
Cole – Bogosian		 Matheson – Savard
Edmundson – Barron
Kovacevic – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Raddysh, Fleury, Eyssimont
Injured: none		 Scratched:
Injured: Byron (hip), Price (knee), Monahan (lower-body), Gallagher (lower-body), Evans (lower-body), Slafkovsky (lower-body), Caufield (shoulder), Xhekaj (upper-body), Dach (lower-body), Armia (illness), Dvorak (lower-body), Harris (lower-body), Guhle (lower-body)
Goalies
Brian Elliott Sam Montembeault
Record: 10-5-2
GAA: 3.16
Sv%: .896
SO: 1
Alternate: Andrei Vasilevskiy		 Record: 13-13-3
GAA: 3.34
Sv%: .904
SO: 0
Alternate: Jake Allen
 Game Expectations
If the Canadiens apply the same effort on the ice tonight as they did on Thursday evening, buckle up.  The Lighting are paving their path to their sixth playoff appearance and will certainly not be taking it easy on the Habs.  After a 14 goal night against Florida a defensive game is to be expected.

Bottom Line

There’s no denying that injuries have had a massive affect on the Canadiens this season, with 13 games left, they just need to crawl across the finish line and focus deeply on development for next season.
 Video Highlights

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