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Flames @ Canadiens: Chiarot Expected to Return | HABS PREVIEW

Sam Gerber

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

Game Preview

A Look Back

A game that could have separated the Habs and secure a playoff spot did exactly the opposite. The Habs look to be missing their heart and soul of the team, many point to Brendan Gallagher being out but if he’s the reason then the Habs need to find a new identity soon or they might just miss the playoffs.

Last game: MTL 1  CGY 4  F

For a complete game recap: Flames @ Canadiens: Habs Not Ready

Players to Watch

  • Eric Staal
    Staal has been very quiet since his first game for the Habs. Buffalo may have been too much to handle but Habs staff need to light a fire under him and squeeze out every ounce of sweat and effort he has left.
  • Ben Chiarot
    Chiarot says that he has no regrets about accepting the fight with J.T. Miller and even though he fractured his hand, it won’t change the way he plays. Chiarot is expected to be in the lineup tonight just over four weeks since his injury.
  • Tyler Toffoli
    Habs could use some goals and Toffoli is their best answer for that but hasn’t found the back of the net in over a week.

Keys to Victory

  • Play with speed
    It’s hard to play the speed game when no one wants to skate. That was case last game but you can bet that won’t be the same this time around.
  • Shoot the puck
    The Habs were outshot badly to start the game and that set the tone early. This time the Habs have to put everything on net and maybe this time a few shots off posts will go in too.
  • Limit turnovers
    While it wasn’t the best game by far for the Habs turnovers were the reason they lost. If the Habs eliminate their turnovers for the most part tonight they will have a much better chance at the win.
Statistical Matchup
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | April 16, 6:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, SNW, RDS, ESPN+

2020-21 statistics
FLAMES CANADIENS
41 (22nd) Points (rank) 45 (17th)
19-21-3 Record 18-13-9
9-12-2 Away/Home 9-9-2
4-6-0 Last 10 5-5-0
2.65 GF/G 3.05
2.93 GA/G 2.78
20.3 (15th) PP% (rank) 20.2 (16th)
80.9 (12th) PK% (rank) 76.9 (23rd)
52.13  CF% 55.22
Pre-game Quotes
Cole Caufield
  • “It’s just an exciting experience to be up here right now. It’s great to be on the ice with those guys and great to be in the meetings and just learn as much as I can. The coaching staff has been great, too. I’m just trying to work hard and do as much as I can to hopefully get that chance to play. Right now, though, I’m just focused on day-by-day things and doing the best I can.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Gaudreau – Lindholm – Tkachuk
Mangiapane – Monahan – Dube
Lucic – Backlund – Nordstrom
Leivo – Ryan – Ritchie		 Toffoli – Suzuki – Armia
Drouin – Kotkaniemi – Anderson
Tatar – Danault – Byron
Lehkonen – Staal – Perry
Defensemen
Giordano – Tanev
Hanifin – Andersson
Valimaki – Stone		 Chiarot – Weber
Edmundson – Petry
Romanov –  Kulak
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Nesterov, Zagidulin
Injured:
 Scratched: Frolik, Evans, Ouellet
Injured: Gallagher (hand), Price (lower-body), Merrill (COVID protocol), Gustafsson (COVID protocol)
Goalies
Jacob Markstrom Jake Allen
Record: 15-14-2
GAA: 2.81
Sv%: .903
SO: 3
Alternate: Louis Domingue		 Record: 6-7-4
GAA: 2.53
Sv%: .912
SO: 0
Alternate: Cayden Primeau
 Game Expectations
Jake Allen has been following the script that finds his performance decline significantly  when he is forced to be the go-to goaltender. In addition, the Canadiens play far more defensively when Allen is in net causing a lack of goal scoring.

Bottom Line

Tonight should be a different game, the Habs need to show their desperation and that they aren’t losing this playoff spot without a fight.
 Video Highlights

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