FORECAST | After a Long Road Trip, Habs Return Home
Ty Prater
All Habs Weekly Forecast gives a first look of the week ahead for your Montreal Canadiens. Staff writer Ty Prater maps out the schedule, provides a statistical comparison of each matchup, identifies players to watch, as well as strengths and weaknesses of each team and provides links to our game reports for the season series. Bookmark this page and use it as your guide for each game in the Canadiens schedule this week. The Weekly Forecast combined with our popular Game Day feature provides you with the best information available as you prepare for puck drop.
MONTREAL, QC. — This week the Canadiens play one on the road in Philadelphia before heading home to face New Jersey and Pittsburgh. Last week the Habs went 2-1, ending their six game losing streak last Monday and having a big offensive night in the Winter Classic.
Calendar: January 4 – January 10
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN
AWAY
HOME
HOME
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Montreal Canadiens
The Habs (22-15-3) are coming off a 5-1 win against Boston last Friday and start their week Tuesday at Philadelphia. Montreal is second in the Atlantic Division and eighth in the league with 47 points. They are 3-7-0 in their last ten games played.
Players to Watch
Brendan Gallagher. In his first game back since 22 November from a broken hand, Gallagher picked up a goal and an assist to bring his total points up to 21 so far this season.
Max Pacioretty. Pacioretty has four points in his last three games and 31 points this season.
Strengths (+)
Weaknesses (-)
Montreal’s offence remains hot, scoring ten goals in three games last week; putting their average at 2.85 goals per game (4th). The Habs are getting plenty of chances in front of the net, averaging 31.4 shots per game while allowing only 27.7 shots against (4th).
The Canadiens might not allow many shots against, but the absence of Price is definitely felt as they average 2.45 goals against per game (12th).
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Tuesday
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers (15-15-7) are coming off a 2-1 loss against Los Angels last Saturday and start their week Tuesday against Montreal. Philadelphia is seventh in the Metropolitan Division and 27th in the league with 37 points. They are 4-4-2 in their last ten games played.
Players to Watch
Jakub Voracek. Voracek has five points in his last five games for a total of 25 points this season.
Sean Couturier. Couturier has three points in his last three games and 15 points so far this season.
Strengths (+)
Weaknesses (-)
The Flyers are struggling but they do manage to get their fair share of offensive chances with an average of 30.1 shots per game.
Philadelphia’s offence is 29th in the league with just 2.11 goals per game, and their special teams are also struggling with a power play at 16.4 per cent (27th) and a penalty kill at 77.3 per cent (26th).
Matchup
Tuesday January 5 | Philadelphia, PA.
CANADIENS
(statistics as of January 3, 2016)
FLYERS
47 (8th)
Points
37 (27th)
11-9-1 (away)
Home/Away Record
8-5-4 (home)
2.85 (4th)
Goals per game
2.11 (29th)
2.45 (12th)
Goals Against per game
2.68 (18th)
31.4 (4th)
Shots per game
30.1 (12th)
27.7 (4th)
Shots Against per game
32.6 (29th)
18.8% (17th)
Power-play
16.4% (27th)
84.4% (4th)
Penalty-kill
77.3% (26th)
Season Series
February 19, 2016 | MTL PHI |
February 2, 2016 | MTL PHI |
January 5, 2016 | MTL PHI |
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Wednesday
New Jersey Devils
The Devils (20-15-5) are coming off a 1-0 loss against Detroit Monday and play Montreal Wednesday. New Jersey is fourth in the Metropolitan Division and 12th in the league with 45 points. They are 5-4-1 in their last ten games played.
Players to Watch
Kyle Palmieri. Palmieri has three goals in his last five games and 30 points so far this season.
Lee Stempniak. Stempniak has two points in his last four games and 28 points this season.
Strengths (+)
Weaknesses (-)
New Jersey has a strong defence, averaging just 2.28 goals against per game (4th) and a penalty kill at 83.3 (7th).
The Devils struggle to score, only averaging 25.0 shots per game (30th) and scoring just 2.28 goals per game (28th).
The Penguins (19-15-4) are coming off a 5-2 win against the Islanders last Saturday and start their week Tuesday against Chicago before playing Montreal Saturday. Pittsburgh is fifth in the Metropolitan Division and 17th in the league with 42 points. They are 4-5-1 in their last ten games played.
Players to Watch
Evgeni Malkin. Malkin has seven points in his last three games played and 18 goals so far this season (9th).
Kris Letang. The Montreal native has six points in his last two games and 22 points this season.
Strengths (+)
Weaknesses (-)
Pittsburgh’s offence takes lots of shots, with an average of 32.2 per game (2nd) and their penalty kill is strong at 84.1 per cent (6th).
The Penguins struggle to score, averaging just 2.37 goals per game (24th) and their defence gives up a lot of shots against, with an average of 31.6 per game (28th).
