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

By
Sam Gerber
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Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game: MTL 1  TBL  3  

The Habs left Carey Price to do all the heavy lifting once again. With a goal in the dying seconds of the second period and another in the opening moments of the third period the Lightning changed the entire game.

For a complete recap: Habs Best Not Good Enough vs Bolts

Players to watch

  • Jonathan Huberdeau
    Huberdeau is red hot of late and is a big part of the Panthers win streak.
  •  Aaron Ekblad
    Ekblad is the work horse for the Panthers on the blue line. He’ll be active on both ends of the ice and has become one of the best shot blockers in the league.
  • Jonathan Drouin
    Drouin is frustrated not having the return to Florida that he had hoped. Habs fans are left wondering if he will have a strong performance soon?

Keys to Victory

  • Play to the final buzzer
    The Habs can’t let up at anytime during the game and need to start forcing the play.
  • Own possession
    The Canadiens need to play with the puck a lot more and win battles to retrieve it.
  • Attack down the middle
    Montreal has been attacking along the boards making it easy for their opponents to defend. Attacking through the center of the ice will be harder to defend.
Matchup by All Habs staff
BB&T Center, Sunrise, FL | December 30, 7:00 PM ET | TV: CBC, City, TVAS, FS-F

2017-18 statistics
PANTHERS CANADIENS
37 (24th) Points (rank) 36 (27th)
16-16-5 Record 16-18-4
9-6-3 Home/Away 7-11-1
6-3-1 Last 10 3-6-1
2.81 GF/G 2.61
3.22 GA/G 3.13
16.2 PP% 19.0
81.1 PK% 77.2
 48.88  CF%  50.94
 
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Huberdeau – Barkov – Bjugstad
Dadonov – Trocheck – Malgin
McGinn – McCann – Brickley
Haley – MacKenzie – Sceviour		 Pacioretty – Danault – Shaw
Galchenyuk – Drouin – Lehkonen
Byron – Plekanec – Gallagher 
Deslauriers – Froese – Carr
Defensemen
Yandle – Ekblad
Matheson – Pysyk
Weegar – Petrovic		 Alzner – Petry
Benn – Jerabek
Morrow – Lernout
Out of the lineup
Scratched: 
Injured: Luongo, McCoshen, Vrbata		 Scratched: De La Rose, Hudon
Injured: Weber, Hemsky, Montoya, Schlemko
Goalies
James Reimer Carey Price
Record: 10-9-4
GAA: 3.10
Sv%: .909
SO: 1
Alternate: Harri Sateri		 Record: 11-12-2
GAA: 3.00
Sv%: .906
SO: 1
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect
Florida is on a four game win streak and play a physical brand of hockey. Emotions should flare over for both teams leading to a lot of odd man rushes.

Prediction: Canadiens 4  Panthers 3 

The Canadiens need every point they can get now and will not take kind to being pushed around.
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