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Gallagher Returns | PREVIEW: OTT @ MTL

Sam Gerber

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

The Habs came back more than once and prevailed in a shootout. The Habs are becoming a team that sticks around in games and will battle back. Jesse Ylonen scored the tying goal in the third period on a great passing play between his linemates while Nick Suzuki scoring the game-deciding goal in the shootout.

Last game: MTL 5  TBL 4  F/SO

For a complete game recap: Thrilling Comeback | RECAP: MTL @ TBL

Players to Watch

  • Jordan Harris
    Harris looked wasn’t phased against some of the best players in the league. Harris has top NHL level skating ability and will continue to show it the remainder of the season.
  • Jesse Ylonen
    Five points in twelve NHL games for Ylonen is quite the accomplishment. He has recently got some power-play time but his usage has been primarily as a depth forward making the accomplishment all the more impressive. The Habs would be wise to give Ylonen some extra ice time to see exactly what they have in the 22-year-old.
  • Nick Suzuki
    Suzuki has officially proved he is a number one center in the NHL and has career high in goals and assists this season. Having Suzuki as the 1A center the Habs would be wise to add a 1B for next season who can help Suzuki reach his offensive potential.

Keys to Victory

  • Play smart
    A matchup between two non-playoff teams isn’t always exciting but between these two rivals something is bound to happen. The Habs would be wise to play smart hockey and focus on the game instead letting the contest get heated.
  • Generate shots
    The Habs continue to be on the wrong side of the shot margin and need to fix that going into next season. Controlling the play is one thing but not being outworked or losing one-on-one battles can be a difference maker when it comes to the end of the game.
  • Stretch the ice
    The Senators are a very similar team to the Habs but don’t have the most mobile back-end. The Habs should be able to stretch out the game and be able to catch some of the Sens defence for some odd man rushes.
Statistical Matchup for Game 70
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | April 5, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, TSN5, RDS, ESPN+

2021-22  statistics
SENATORS CANADIENS
56 (27th) Points (rank) 49 (32nd)
25-37-6 Record 19-39-11
W2 Streak W1
4-5-1 Last 10 3-4-3
2.65 (26th) GF/G (rank) 2.54 (31st)
3.22 (23rd) GA/G (rank) 3.77 (31st)
18.9 (23rd) PP% (rank) 13.4 (31st)
80.8 (13th) PK%  (rank) 74.4 (28th)
48.1  Faceoff % 48.3
Pre-game Quotes
Marty St. Louis on Carey Price
  • “I know from what I saw today, what I noticed, I thought he looked pretty good.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Tkachuk – Norris – Joseph
Formenton – Stutzle – Batherson
Kelly – White – Brown
Gaudette – Gambrell – Watson		 R. Pitlick – Suzuki – Caufield
Hoffman – Evans – Anderson
Armia – Dvorak – Gallagher
Byron – Poehling – Ylonen
Defensemen
Brannstrom – Zub
Del Zotto – Hamonic
Holden – Zaitsev		 Romanov – Savard
Edmundson – Barron
Harris – Schueneman
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Mete, Tierney
Injured: Pinto, Murray, Chabot, Ennis, Sanderson		 Scratched: Lagesson, Perreault, Wideman, Dauphin, T. Pitlick
Injured: Pezzetta (upper-body), Petry (lower-body), Drouin (upper-body),  Clague (upper-body), Price (knee), Weber (multiple injuries)
Goalies
Anton Forsberg Jake Allen
Record: 16-14-3
GAA: 2.71
Sv%: .919
SO: 1
Alternate: Mads Sogaard		 Record: 8-19-4
GAA: 3.21
Sv%: .907
SO: 2
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
The Sens started their rebuild a few seasons ago and have made some great strides with a number of top 10 picks. The Habs will be following in their foot steps but do not plan to do a full rebuild for now. This offseason will answer several questions surrounding the Habs but it’s hard not to compare the two teams. A defensive matchup isn’t likely as both teams surrender a ton of goals, expect a high action back and forth game that has a chance of getting out of hand whenever Brady Tkachuk is on the ice.

Bottom Line

This game means nothing to either team and you will likely see both teams relaxed but one big hit could change the game in an instant.
 Video Highlights

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