Site icon Habs Hockey Report

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

Rick Stephens

 

Game Preview 
Last game: MTL 0  OTT  3  

Carey Price carried the Canadiens to overtime with Tomas Plekanec scoring the game-winner.

For a complete recap: Canadiens – Senators: Habs Waste Another Strong Performance by Price

Players to watch

  • Karl Alzner
    The Canadiens defence will be hard-pressed to fill the void in the lineup created by Shea Weber’s absence. Alzner will be leaned on to be a stabilizing force on defence.
  • Brock Boeser
    Boeser will be a game-time decision after suffering a bone bruise in his foot after blocking a shot in the game against Calgary on Sunday. Boeser leads all rookies in the NHL with 17 goals and 30 points.
  • Jonathan Drouin
    There’s no question that Drouin has been a major disappointment so far this season for the Canadiens failing to live up to expectations. Drouin will be reunited with Max Pacioretty tonight as coach Julien attempts to spark the Canadiens offense.

Keys to Victory

  • Play desperate
    The Canadiens must be emotionally invested from the drop of the puck and show the desperation that they need to make a push for a playoff spot.
  • Use ‘home ice’ advantage
    Rogers Arena will be filled with West Coast Habs fans. And the Canadiens have numerous players with B.C ties including Carey Price, Brendan Gallagher, Karl Alzner and Jordie Benn.
  • Discourage the opponent
    Score early and often. The Canucks are 1-5-0 in their past six games and have injury issues up front. If Montreal gets off to a first period lead, the Cancuks may be primed to fold their tent.
Matchup by All Habs staff
Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC | Dec. 19, 10:00 PM ET | TV: SNP, RDS, TSN2

2017-18 statistics
CANUCKS CANADIENS
34 (24th) Points (rank) 32 (25th)
15-15-4 Record 14-15-4
6-8-3 Home/Away 5-8-1
4-6-0 Last 10 6-3-1
2.59 GF/G 2.61
3.06 GA/G 3.09
21.84 PP% 17.14
79.50 PK% 78.89
 47.40  CF%  51.52
 
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
D. Sedin – H. Sedin – Vanek
Eriksson – Gagner – Boeser
Goldobin – Burmistrov – Virtanen
Gaunce – Granlund – Boucher		 Pacioretty – Drouin – Byron
Galchenyuk – Danault – Shaw
Hudon – Plekanec – Gallagher 
Deslauriers – Froese – Carr
Defensemen
Edler – Stecher
Pouliot – Gudbranson
Del Zotto – Biega		 Benn – Petry
Alzner – Jerabek
Morrow – Schlemko
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Chaput, Hutton, Dowd
Injured: Sutter, Horvat, Baertschi, Tanev		 Scratched: De La Rose
Injured: Weber, Hemsky, Montoya, Lehkonen
Goalies
Anders Nilsson Carey Price
Record: 6-4-1
GAA: 3.13
Sv%: .914
SO: 2
Alternate: Jacob Markstrom		 Record: 9-10-2
GAA: 2.99
Sv%: .905
SO: 1
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect
The Canadiens must notch a victory in this critical seven game road trip if they want a chance for a playoff spot.

Prediction: Canadiens 4  Canucks 1 

With Shea Weber out of the lineup, the Habs will want to play in the Canucks end of the rink.
Highlights from the NHL
Quick Links from Rocket Sports Media publications
[wp_rss_multi_importer category=”3″ thisfeed=”8″ showdate=”0″]
 
 
[wp_rss_multi_importer category=”6″ showdate=”0″]
 
Tickets
   
   
Get Habs Tickets  
  • Need tickets for an upcoming Canadiens game? Click the following link for the best prices on available tickets: Montreal Canadiens Tickets

Follow @AllHabs on Twitter

Exit mobile version