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Edmundson May Return | PREVIEW: MTL @ LAK

Cole Jurzyniec

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

Both netminders were tested in this clash as Jake Allen and Kaapo Kahkonen collectively made 67 saves. The Canadiens found some rhythm in the third period scoring three unanswered goals to take a win on the road. Kaiden Guhle made an outstanding return with a goal, Jesse Ylönen found his second of the year and Christian Dvorak capped off the match with an empty netter.

Last game: MTL 3  SJS 1  F

For a complete game recap: Comeback Win | RECAP: MTL @ SJS

Players to Watch

  • Kaiden Guhle
    The young defenseman was sidelined for two months after suffering a lower body injury late December. The Alberta native made his presence known after a big blast from the point, instantly making a difference. With the 21-year-old defender back in the lineup, he’ll be able to lug lots of ice-time and take some pressure of the other defenseman.
  • Rem Pitlick
    Uncertain of his future with the club, Pitlick has been a decent fill-in winger for the team as they struggle with injuries. He made a clear difference Tuesday night creating many high danger opportunities, one, handing a slick pass over to Jesse Ylönen for a tap in.
  • Josh Anderson
    The 6-foot-3-inch winger is one of the many who have been included in trade rumors. Anderson has two goals and one assist in the last five games and has been a big part of those three victories tallying 18 shots. It would be no surprise if the large framed winger was moved to a contending team.
  • Joel Edmundson
    The call on whether the 29-year-old veteran will play against the Kings will come down to a game-time decision. Edmundson has been widely-discussed as one of Kent Hughes’ most important trade assets heading into Friday’s deadline.

Keys to Victory

  • Keep scoring
    The Canadiens have tuned in to their scoring abilities netting 15 goals in their past four games. The Kings play a ‘in your face’ style of shut-down hockey so the team will have to work much harder against this squad to light the lamp.
  • Stretch the ice
    The team has speed and should utilize this more often with some well placed stretch passes, a simple bank of the boards or a quick snap shot through the neutral zone can create high danger opportunities. The Habs did exactly that versus the Sharks Tuesday night which led to a victory on the road.
  • Stay out of the box
    The Kings are currently tied for second with a 25.6 percent powerplay success rate. The Canadiens need to play a clean brand of hockey to skate away with two points.
Statistical Matchup for Game 61
Crypto .com Arena, Los Angeles, CA | March 2, 10:30 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, BSW

2022-23  statistics
KINGS CANADIENS
76 (9th) Points (rank) 56 (26th)
34-20-8 Record 26-30-4
W1 Streak W1
6-2-2 Last 10 6-4-0
3.31 (11th) GF/G (rank) 2.70 (27th)
3.39 (22nd) GA/G (rank) 3.58 (26th)
25.6 (3rd) PP% (rank) 16.5 (30th)
75.7 (24th) PK% (rank) 74.0 (28th)
52.7  Faceoff % 49.3
Pre-game 
Jake Allen
  • “There are a lot of guys on this team that aren’t going to be traded. I don’t think there are a lot of guys who have a lot to worry about. It’s hockey; you’re here to work and do your job.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Byfield – Kopitar – Kempe
Fiala – Danault – Arvidsson
Iafallo – Lizotte – Vilardi
Grundstrom – Kupari – Kaliyev		 Hoffman – Suzuki – Gurianov
Harvey-Pinard – Drouin – Anderson
Pitlick – Dvorak – Ylonen
Pezzetta – Belzile
Defensemen
Anderson – Doughty
Gavrikov – Walker
Durzi – Roy		 Guhle – Savard
Matheson – Barron
Harris – Kovacevic – Edmundson
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Fagemo, Bjornfot
Injured: Moore		 Scratched: Tierney
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), Wideman (upper-body), Armia (illness)
Goalies
Phoenix Copley Jake Allen
Record: 18-4-2
GAA: 2.82
Sv%: .899
SO: 1
Alternate: Joonas Korpisalo		 Record: 14-18-2
GAA: 3.35
Sv%: .897
SO: 1
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
The depth of the LA Kings is nothing to scoff at, the young talent has grown into their positions and they have four lines that can run through a team. The Canadiens will need to bring their best hockey to the Crypto dot com arena to come out with a win.

Bottom Line

As trade deadline closes in, it’s expected that Kent Hughes and company have a move or two left in the chamber. Uncertain of what they could be, the Canadiens should continue to put their heart on the ice, and develop the youth.
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