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Gallagher Returns | PREVIEW: MTL @ FLA

Sam Gerber

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

When the first shot of the game finds the back of the net, it’s not likely going to be a fun night. Tampa controlled a heavy majority of the game and the Habs had no answer. Down two after two, Brayden Point made his mark on the game once again on some bad defensive play by the Habs giving the Lightning a three goal lead. Kaiden Guhle prevented the shutout late in the game while Jake Allen did everything he could to give the Habs a fighting chance.

Last game: MTL 1  TBL 4  F

For a complete game recap: Bolts Dominate Habs | RECAP: MTL @ TBL

Players to Watch

  • Joel Armia
    Armia has lost his confidence and the Habs are hoping pairing him with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield will give him spark. It didn’t work on Wednesday night and Armia looks lost. The Habs are trying to showcase Armia ahead of the trade deadline in order to get maximum value for him. Armia is capable of being a very strong depth forward.
  • Juraj Slafkovsky
    With the Christmas break come and gone this is Juraj Slafkovsky’s time to make his mark on the season and prove why he was the number one pick. More shots, a stronger forecheck and better decision making are necessary for the eighteen-year-old to finish the season strong.
  • Jordan Harris
    Harris has proved he is an NHL player and is a big part of why the Habs are comfortable playing five rookie defenseman. Harris may never light up the score sheet but he is an excellent puck mover who will only get better as time goes on.

Keys to Victory

  • Generate scoring chances
    The Habs have to change things up when it comes to scoring chances. Being on the wrong end of the stat every night is a big part of why they are losing games.
  • Create traffic
    Several times a game the Habs finish a strong zone control with a perimeter shot with no traffic, wasting a great opportunity. Traffic in front of the net is exactly what the Habs need to start doing a lot more.
  • Win special teams
    For a team with a head coach who was a strong power-play player himself, the Habs power-play shouldn’t be last in the league. The Habs have to change things up as teams aren’t afraid of being short handed facing Montreal.
Statistical Matchup for Game 36
FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, FL | December 29, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, BSFL

2022-23  statistics
PANTHERS CANADIENS
34 (23rd) Points (rank) 33 (26th)
15-16-4 Record 15-17-3
L3 Streak L2
3-7-0 Last 10 3-6-1
3.23 (13th) GF/G (rank) 2.63 (28th)
3.40 (23rd) GA/G (rank) 3.49 (25th)
18.6 (25th) PP% (rank) 13.6 (32nd)
77.6 (18th) PK% (rank) 76.6 (19th)
48.5  Faceoff % 50.5
Pre-game Quotes
Marty St. Louis on Justin Barron
  • “I thought he played well. I thought he gave us some solid minutes, I thought he made some good reads, I thought he defended pretty good, exited the puck pretty well. I was pleased.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Verhaeghe – Barkov – White
Luostarinen – Bennett – Tkachuk
Levtichi – Lundell – Reinhart
Lomberg – Staal – Cousins		 Caufield – Suzuki – Dach
Hoffman – Evans – Anderson
Slafkovsky – Dvorak – Gallagher
Dadonov – Drouin – Armia
Defensemen
Forsling – Ekblad
Staal – Montour
Mahura – Gudas		 Edmundson – Guhle
Xhekaj – Kovacevic
Harris – Barron
Out of the lineup
Scratched:
Injured: Duclair, Hornqvist		 Scratched: Wideman, Pezzetta, Richard
Injured: Byron (hip), Price (knee),   Savard (upper-body injury), Monahan (lower-body), Matheson (lower-body)
Goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky Sam Montembeault
Record: 7-11-1
GAA: 3.29
Sv%: .895
SO: 1
Alternate: Spencer Knight		 Record: 6-3-2
GAA: 2.89
Sv%: .912
SO: 0
Alternate: Jake Allen
 Game Expectations
It should be an interesting night between divisional opponents. On one hand the Panthers are rested from the break and on the other hand the Habs have already shaken off their rust. Both teams are falling out of the playoff contention fast, and both teams first round picks are owned by the Habs thanks to last year’s Ben Chariot trade. The Habs need to get some confidence back and beating the Panthers who have taken a step back this year would do just that.

Bottom Line

While the Habs want to win games, this game going to overtime giving both teams a point is the worst case scenario.
 Video Highlights

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