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

Sam Gerber

7 years ago

Game Preview by Sam Gerber

Last game: MTL 4 OTT 1

The Canadiens had a great weekend with back-to-back wins. For a change, the Habs provided goal support for their netminders. Lehkonen got the monkey off his back and scored twice against the Senators.

For a complete recap: Habs Lehkonen Rewarded for Strong Effort

Players to watch

Travis Konecny
With his high energy game, Konecny has the knack of scoring timely goals for the Flyers.
Nikita Scherbak
Scherbak had a great weekend for the Habs with two assists. He is looking to stay with the big club for the rest of the season. It’s important that he plays top six minutes to play his best.
Claude Giroux
After having an off year in 2016-17, Giroux has already achieved his point total from last season with lots of hockey left.

Keys to Victory

Score with the man advantage
The Canadiens power-play has been on fire in 2018. Winning the offensive zone face-off has been a big factor.
Use your speed
The Habs will need to out skate the hard checking Flyers, who always leave teams bruised.
Execute zone entries
When the Canadiens maintain possession on their zone entry they have great offensive pressure.

Matchup by All Habs staff
Wells-Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA \| February 8, 7:00 PM ET \| TV: TSN2, RDS, NBCSC
	2017-18 statistics
FLYERS	2017-18 statistics	CANADIENS
59 (18th)	Points (rank)	50 (27th)
25-19-9	Record	22-25-6
13-9-5	Home/Away	8-15-1
5-4-1	Last 10	4-5-1
2.87	GF/G	2.58
2.85	GA/G	3.06
20.4	PP%	21.6
74.2	PK%	78.6
49.91	CF%	50.81

eSAT Analytics by Mathieu Chagnon

Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Giroux – Couturier – Konecny Voracek – Patrick – Simmonds Weal – Laughton – Raffl Lehtera – Filppula – Weise	Pacioretty – Byron – Hudon Galchenyuk – Drouin – Scherbak Lehkonen – Plekanec – Gallagher Deslauriers – Froese – L. Shaw
Defensemen
Provorov – Gostisbehere Hagg – MacDonald Manning – Gudas	Alzner – Petry Mete – Schlemko Morrow – Benn
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Alt, Leier Injured: None	Scratched: Jerabek, Carr, De La Rose Injured: Weber, Hemsky, Danault, A. Shaw
Goalies
Brian Elliot	Carey Price

Record: 20-11-7 GAA: 2.71 Sv%: .909 SO: 0 Alternate: Michal Neuvirth	Record: 15-19-4 GAA: 2.92 Sv%: .907 SO: 1 Alternate: Antti Niemi

What to Expect

Prediction: Canadiens 2 Flyers 3

The Flyers currently hold down a wild card spot and need all the points they can get. Expect them to set the tone early. Philadelphia is a high offensive team who relies on scoring to make up for their below-average defensive style. With Price in net, the Canadiens should be able to hold off the Flyers offense. The game plan for the Habs should be patience, waiting for the Flyers to open up the game. Then Montreal can take advantage.

Highlights from the NHL

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2017-18 statistics