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

Sam Gerber

December 17, 2018

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

Game Preview by Sam Gerber

Last game : MTL 5 OTT 2 This featured a goal that was allowed that shouldn’t have been and one that was disallowed that should have counted. The embellishment penalty to Artturi Lehkonen was one of the worst calls I have ever seen. There’s no doubt that Lehkonen was hooked on the play. It’s very hard to believe TJ Luxmore actually made the call for diving. This wasn’t the only blown call by Luxmore this game either. Fans didn’t stop booing until the ‘Ole Ole’ chants were in the air. The Habs managed to regain their composure, feed off the crowd and three more time to beat the Senators for the third time in two weeks.

For a complete game recap: Habs Overcome Adversity to Bury Sens

Players to watch

Artturi Lehkonen
Lehkonen gives a full effort every single game. His production has picked up lately. After scoring a beautiful goal against the Canes, he got two more points against the Senators and should have had a third. It’s big for the Habs as they rely on secondary scoring.
David Schlemko
Schlemko finds himself back in the line-up. The continued carousel of defense has been hard on chemistry. But this gives Schlemko another chance to prove himself and gives Jordie Benn time in the press box.
Carey Price
Price had no chance on the two goals allowed against Ottawa. Brady Tkachuk jammed his stick into the back of Price’s leg upending him awkwardly. Price was in obvious pain but remained in the game. On the second Ottawa goal, Jordie Benn gave the puck away but it was a lazy shift by Jonathan Drouin and Max Domi that led to the scoring play.

Keys to Victory

Make a quick start
The Bruins will look to have a great start at the Bell Centre. It’s important for the Habs to match their opponent’s start with a high energy first period of their own.
Make plays with speed
Speed is the Habs strength and something they should use for their final home game of 2018. Empty the tanks in the third to take advantage of the Bruins who are playing back-to-back games.
Execute zone entries
The Habs power-play has looked slightly better recently but they still are having issues gaining the zone with the man advantage.

Matchup by All Habs staff
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC \| December 17, 7:30 PM ET \| TV: TSN2, RDS, NESN
	2018-19 statistics
BRUINS	2018-19 statistics	CANADIENS
38 (14th)	Points (rank)	39 (13th)
17-12-4	Record	17-11-5
6-8-4	Away/Home	10-6-2
4-6-0	Last 10	6-4-0
2.70	GF/G	3.21
2.67	GA/G	3.24
25.2	PP%	12.3
77.1	PK%	76.6
52.10	CF%	54.38

Scouting the odds
The Habs opened as slight -125 favorites against the Bruins after an 11-goal outburst during back to back wins. That’s tremendous value on Montreal based on the trends. Boston has won just six of 18 road games this year, while the Habs are 10-8 at home for betting purposes so if you are thinking on trying some luck, here are some recommended options from SBD with a trustworthy reputation status. Boston minus Patrice Bergeron just is not the same team.
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Marchand – Krejci – Pastrnak Nordstrom – Cave – Backes Donato – Forsbacka-Karlsson – Heinen Kuraly – Acciari – Wagner	Drouin – Domi – Shaw Tatar – Danault – Gallagher Byron – Kotkaniemi – Lehkonen Agostino – Chaput – Peca
Defensemen
Krug – Carlo Grzelcyk – McAvoy Moore – Kampfer	Kulak – Weber Reilly – Petry Schlemko – Juulsen
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Smith, Lauzon Injured: Miller, Bergeron, Chara, DeBrusk, Vaakanainen	Scratched: Hudon, Deslauriers, Benn Injured: Armia
Goalies
Jaroslav Halak	Carey Price

Record: 9-5-2 GAA: – 2.40 Sv%: – .926 SO: 2 Alternate: Tuukka Rask	Record: 13-8-4 GAA: – 2.90 Sv%: – .902 SO: 1 Alternate: Antti Niemi

What to Expect by Sam Gerber

The Habs have gone 6-2 in their last eight games, after losing five in a row. This is the last home game of the year for the Habs and with the Bruins in town it always creates some extra buzz in the air. The Bruins are on a two-game losing streak, including Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the Sabres. The well-travelled Jaroslav Halak will be in goal for teh Bruins. Halak can be in for a long night if the Canadiens can get to him early. Carey Price gets the start tonight. He has played great in both of the previous matches against the Bruins this season.

Highlights from the NHL

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2018-19 statistics