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

Sam Gerber

December 22, 2017

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

Game Preview by Sam Gerber

Last game: MTL 7 VAN 5

The Habs bested the Canucks in a high scoring match on Tuesday. Price was on top of his game even though the score might not show it. The Habs fourth line lead by Daniel Carr was the difference maker.

For a complete recap: Canadiens – Canucks: Secondary Scoring Powers Habs Win

Players to watch

Brett Lernout
This weekend, Lernout may play his first game for the Habs this season. With three NHL games behind him, Lernout will want to prove that he belongs at this level. Lernout is a big body defenseman that loves to be physical, something the Canadiens have been missing on the blue-line.
Carey Price
Pay no attention to simplistic stats, Price is back. He kept the Habs in the game on Tuesday and will need to be on the top of his game once again verse the Flames, who can score in bunches.
Sean Monahan
Monahan is turning into one of the leagues best. He was the difference maker the last time these two teams played and will need to contained every shift.

Keys to Victory

Score first
It will be big for the Canadiens to come out fast, and get a goal early to take the crowd out of it. Habs fans show up in numbers in Calgary and early goal will get them going.
Make smart choices
Poor choices were one of the reasons that Montreal gave up five goals on Tuesday, something that can’t happen again if they hope to put consecutive wins together.
Finish strong
The Habs let up against the Flames last game while trying to hold a one goal lead. It failed and it cost them a point.

Matchup by All Habs staff
Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, AB \| December 22, 9:00 PM ET \| TV: SN360, TSN2, RDS
	2017-18 statistics
FLAMES	2017-18 statistics	CANADIENS
39 (18th)	Points (rank)	34 (25th)
18-14-3	Record	15-15-4
9-10-0	Home/Away	6-8-1
4-4-2	Last 10	6-3-1
2.77	GF/G	2.74
2.89	GA/G	3.15
17.1	PP%	18.5
77.4	PK%	77.7
52.98	CF%	51.26


Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Gaudreau – Monahan – Ferland Tkachuk – Backlund – Frolik Bennett – Jankowski – Hathaway Brouwer – Stajan – Hamilton	Pacioretty – Drouin – Byron Galchenyuk – Danault – Shaw Hudon – Plekanec – Gallagher Deslauriers – Froese – Carr
Defensemen
Giordano – Hamilton Brodie – Stone Kulak – Bartkowski	Alzner – Petry Benn – Schlemko Morrow – Jerabek
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Lazar, Andersson Injured: Versteeg, Jagr, Hamonic	Scratched: De La Rose, Lernout Injured: Weber, Hemsky, Montoya, Lehkonen
Goalies
Mike Smith	Carey Price

Record: 14-11-3 GAA: 2.55 Sv%: .919 SO: 2 Alternate: David Rittich	Record: 10-10-2 GAA: 3.09 Sv%: .903 SO: 1 Alternate: Antti Niemi

What to Expect

The Flames come into this game, the last before the Christmas break, on a two-game win streak. Calgary will be pushing the pace each shift and play hard right to the end.

Prediction: Canadiens 5 Flames 3

The Habs will need to match the Flames intensity and compete right to the end.

Highlights from the NHL

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2017-18 statistics