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

Sam Gerber

7 years ago

Game Preview by Sam Gerber, Staff Writer

Last game: MTL 1 DAL 3

The Canadiens were clinging to a 1-0 lead in the second period. It quickly vanished when they allowed two goals in less than a minute apart. That scenario has repeated itself often this season. Dallas added another goal late with the Habs net empty.

For a complete recap: Canadiens – Stars: Defensive Lapses Sink Habs

Players to watch

P.K. Subban
Subban has embraced his new home of Nashville but he still has his fans in Montreal. Expect Subban to make an impact tonight.
Kyle Turris
Turris is the newest member of the Predators after a recent three team trade. The former division rival is quite familiar to the Habs. Turris is now part of an impressive one, two punch down the middle for the Preds.
Alexei Emelin
Emelin will be playing against his former team for the first time. Habs players know very well what Emelin is capable of and will need to keep their heads up.

Keys to Victory

Get pucks deep
For a team struggling to score the Habs need to get pucks deep and attack hard on the forecheck.
Be first
If the Habs want to maintain possession, they will need to be first on pucks.
Score early
The Predators arena can be the loudest in the NHL as we witnessed in last year’s playoffs. By getting an early goal, the Habs can silence the crowd.

Matchup
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN \| November 22, 8:00 PM ET \| TV: SN1, RDS, FS-TN
	2017-18 statistics
PREDATORS	2017-18 statistics	CANADIENS
26 (7th)	Points (rank)	18 (27th)
12-6-2	Record	8-12-2
7-1-1	Home/Away	4-7-0
7-3-0	Last 10	5-4-1
3.20	GF/G	2.38
2.95	GA/G	3.52
24.1	PP%	14.9
83.0	PK%	75.7
49.14	CF%	53.49


Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Forsberg – Johansen – Arvidsson Fiala – Turris – Smith Sissons – Bonino – Jarnkrok Aberg – Gaudreau – Salomaki	Pacioretty – Drouin – Galchenyuk Byron – Danault – Shaw Hudon – Plekanec – Gallagher Deslauriers – De La Rose – Mitchell
Defensemen
Josi – Ekholm Emelin – Subban Irwin – Bitetto	Benn – Morrow Alzner – Petry Jerabek – Davidson
Out of the lineup
Scratched: McLeod Injured: Ellis, Hartnell, Weber	Scratched: Froese, Mete Injured: Hemsky, Scherbak, Price, Montoya, Lehkonen, Schlemko, Weber
Goalies
Pekka Rinne	Antti Niemi

Record: 11-3-2 GAA: 2.48 Sv%: .921 SO: 1 Alternate: Juuse Saros	Record: 0-4-0 GAA: 6.67 Sv%: .820 SO: 0 Alternate: Charlie Lindgren

What to Expect

Core players need to step up for the Habs to lead a 60 minute effort. It will be key for the Habs to respond correctly when the Predators score. Keeping the emotion to a minimum and just playing hockey will be a big factor as well.

Prediction: Canadiens 3 Stars 2

The Canadiens can’t let Subban take over this game or it could be the nail in the coffin for the Habs playoffs hopes.

Highlights from the NHL

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2017-18 statistics