Evans Returns to the Lineup | PREVIEW: MTL @ BOS

By
Sam Gerber
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GAME DAY PREVIEW | Montreal Canadiens vs Boston Bruins: Preview, TV, Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Habs Tickets

Game Preview 

A Look Back

It was a spirited battle as the Habs took down one of the top teams in the league. The night ended with a sour taste for fans as Josh Anderson was injured as he crashed into an empty net aided by former Hab Mikail Sergachev. The degree of the injury has yet to be announced.

Last game: MTL 3  TBL 2  F

For a complete game recap: Dach Provides Immediate Boost | RECAP: TBL @ MTL

Players to Watch

  • Kirby Dach
    Dach made an impression right from the start in his first game from his injury. It didn’t take long for Dach to find the back of the net. Dach’s physical presence was very noticeable without having to lay out the body as well, something that has been missing from the Habs lineup.
  • Jake Evans
    Evans will return to the lineup tonight as the Habs get another body back. Evans took a bit of a step back this season after a breakout year last season. The Habs need him to finish the season strong if he wants to convince management that he can challenge to be a third line center next season.
  • Jonathan Drouin
    After the missed meeting, Drouin returned to the Habs lineup finding the back of the net for his second goal of the season. These are likely his last games with the Habs which many fans are happy about but for some it is bittersweet on what could have been.

Keys to Victory

  • Be prepared
    The Habs have to be prepared to play this game. The Bruins are the top team in the league and have no weakness in their lineup. The coaching staff have to have their players ready for this game and give them a feel of what it’s going to take to be able to compete next season against top teams like the Bruins.
  • Be sharp
    The Bruins are a deep team that will take advantage of mistakes. The Habs will have to be sharp and execute their decision making. Any second guessing could end in the back of their net.
  • Stay close
    After beating the Lightning, the Habs have to show they aren’t going to get blown out against the league’s best and have to keep this game close.
Statistical Matchup for Game 72
TD Garden, Boston, MA | March 23, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, NESN

2022-23  statistics
BRUINS CANADIENS
113 (1st) Points (rank) 62 (28th)
54-11-5 Record 28-37-6
W4 Streak W1
7-3-0 Last 10 2-6-2
3.76 (2nd) GF/G (rank) 2.78 (28th)
2.11 (1st) GA/G (rank) 3.69 (27th)
22.5 (12th) PP% (rank) 16.5 (29th)
86.0 (1st) PK% (rank) 72.1 (31st)
54.5  Faceoff % 48.8
Pre-game quote
Jake Evans

  • “I love a challenge and I’ve been thinking about this return for quite some time now. I’ve been feeling great out there and just happy to be back.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Marchand – Bergeron – DeBrusk
Zacha – Krejci – Pastrnak
Bertuzzi – Coyle – Frederic
Greer – Nosek – Hathaway		 Harvey-Pinard – Suzuki – Hoffman
Drouin – Dach – Gurianov
Pitlick – Evans – Gallagher
Pezzetta – Tierney – Belzile
Defensemen
Grzelcyk – McAvoy
Lindholm – Orlov
Zboril – Clifton		 Matheson – Savard
Edmundson – Harris
Kovacevic – Barron
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Carlo, Lauko
Injured: Hall, Foligno, Forbort		 Scratched: Wideman
Injured: Byron (hip), Price (knee), Monahan (lower-body), Slafkovsky (lower-body), Caufield (shoulder), Xhekaj (upper-body), Armia (illness), Dvorak (lower-body), Guhle (lower-body), Ylonen (illness), Anderson (lower-body)
Goalies
Jeremy Swayman Jake Allen
Record: 18-6-4
GAA: 2.20
Sv%: .920
SO: 4
Alternate: Linus Ullmark		 Record: 14-23-3
GAA: 3.56
Sv%: .892
SO: 1
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
This game has the potential to be the final nail in the Habs coffin this season and will be a big test for how they want to finish this season. It will be quite shocking for the Habs to pick up back-to-back wins against two top teams. If the Bruins are expecting a walk in the park the Habs have to take advantage without poking the bear as the last thing Habs fans want to see is their biggest rival piling up points on them.

Bottom Line

Keeping this game close, staying healthy and good fundamental hockey that the Habs can take into next season is what the bottom line should be as the score won’t matter.
 Video Highlights

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