GAME DAY | Avalanche – Canadiens: Preview, Prediction, Lines, Goalies, TV

Sam Gerber

7 years ago

Game Preview by Sam Gerber

Last game: MTL 1 BOS 4

The Canadiens were no match for the Bruins top line once again.

For a complete recap: Habs Drop Third Straight to Boston

Players to watch

Nathan MacKinnon
Mackinnon is second in the league in points. He is just four points off his career season high with just under half the season to go.
Jonathan Drouin
Drouin played his junior hockey with MacKinnon and will be looking to beat his old teammate.
Nail Yakupov
After struggling under expectations due to being drafted first overall, Yakupov has found a new home in Colorado and is having an effective season.

Keys to Victory

Take control
The Habs need to be in control of the game and not let the Avs force the play with their speed.
Be disciplined
The Canadiens paid for bad penalties once again and continue to be undisciplined.
Shoot the puck
Montreal players too often are guilty of looking for the perfect play, making too many passes.

Matchup by All Habs staff
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC \| January 23, 7:30 PM ET \| TV: TSN2, RDS, ALT
	2017-18 statistics
AVALANCHE	2017-18 statistics	CANADIENS
57 (10th)	Points (rank)	44 (26th)
27-16-3	Record	19-22-6
9-9-2	Away/Home	11-9-5
10-0-0	Last 10	3-5-2
3.33	GF/G	2.51
2.85	GA/G	3.11
20.9	PP%	19.1
84.9	PK%	78.1
48.32	CF%	51.19


Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Landeskog – MacKinnon – Rantanen Nieto – Soderberg – Comeau Toninato – Kerfoot – Yakupov Bourque – Compher – Jost	Pacioretty – Byron – Hudon Lehkonen – Plekanec – Gallagher Galchenyuk – Drouin – Deslauriers De La Rose – Froese – L. Shaw
Defensemen
Zadorov – Johnson Nemeth – Barberio Girard – Lidholm	Alzner – Petry Benn – Jerabek Mete – Schlemko
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Injured: Kamenev, Barrie, Varlamov, Andrighetto, Jost	Scratched: Morrow, Carr Injured: Weber, Hemsky, Danault, A. Shaw
Goalies
Jonathan Bernier	Carey Price

Record: 14-7-1 GAA: 2.58 Sv%: .920 SO: 2 Alternate: Andrew Hammond	Record: 13-15-4 GAA: 2.95 Sv%: .908 SO: 1 Alternate: Antti Niemi

What to Expect

Prediction: Canadiens 3 Avalanche 4

The Avs come into Montreal as the hottest team in the NHL, currently on a 10-game win streak. Their confidence is at all-time high which could be dangerous if they get on the board early. The Habs are well rested for the game and will have a lot motivation to put an end to the win streak. MacKinnon did not get on the score sheet on Monday night against the Leafs. He likely won’t be held pointless two games in a row.

Highlights from the NHL

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2017-18 statistics