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

Only Carey Price showed up for the Habs in what was a disappointing loss. The game meant a lot for the Canadiens head coach Julien who told the media they should be directing pointed questions at players.

For a complete recap: Team Of One Is Not Enough

Players to watch

• Logan Shaw
  With Andrew Shaw out of the lineup with a lower-body injury, Logan Shaw will make his Canadiens debut after being plucked from waivers.  L. Shaw is a big body who can finish his checks and help create energy.
• Jonathan Drouin
  Moving Drouin to the wing lasted less than a period and a half against the Bruins. Tonight Drouin will be back at centre between Alex Galchenyuk and mucker, Nicolas Deslauriers. We’ll see how long this arrangement lasts.
• Alex Ovechkin
  Ovechkin has bought into the system becoming a bigger team player and is an even more dangerous threat.

Keys to Victory

• Improve possession
  The Canadiens must do a better job controlling the puck than they did against the Bruins.
• Need a solid effort
  Montreal was guilty of a lack of effort in their last game. They must be better against the Capitals.
• Create puck luck
  All the effort in the world might not be enough against the Caps. But with a solid effort, the Habs can create a lucky bounce or two.

After a demoralizing loss the Habs players are at rock bottom and the coaching staff has no answers. The Capitals are poised to pounce but are on their second of a back-to-back.