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

Sam Gerber

6 years ago

Game Preview by Sam Gerber

Last game : MTL 5 TBL 6 A back and forth game that saw the Habs compete against the NHL’s best. The Canadiens got off to a quick start. That said, the Lightning played one of their worst games of the year for two periods. By the third, Tampa found their game and completed the comeback. Antti Niemi had plenty of goal support but only got more shaky as the game went on. Niemi has had a rough season but this game may have been his low point so far.

For a complete game recap: Can’t Get a Save

Players to watch

Shea Weber
With Carey Price out with injury, Shea Weber is the Habs leader. Weber has made a world of a difference to the team since coming back earlier than expected.
Antti Niemi
Niemi needs to be much, much better. He has been giving up far too many weak goals. Even when Niemi isn’t giving up goals, he has been too casual with rebounds causing the Canadiens to be pinned in their own zone. With time off, Niemi should be well rested and has to play much better.
Andrew Shaw
Shaw is having a very good season and his confidence is showing. By staying healthy Shaw may be able to put up career best numbers.

Keys to Victory

Stay out of the box
The Stars have a lot of offensive weapons and a decent power-play.
Get physical
The Canadiens blueline is not very physical besides Shea Weber. It is important the defense show they won’t get pushed around against a big Stars team.
Limit chances
Given Antti Niemi’s struggles, the Habs will have to limit scoring chances and clear the numerous rebounds.

Matchup by All Habs staff
American Airlines Arena, Dallas, TX \| December 31, 8:30 PM ET \| TV: TSN2, RDS, FS-SW+
	2018-19 statistics
STARS	2018-19 statistics	CANADIENS
43 (17th)	Points (rank)	45 (14th)
20-16-3	Record	20-14-5
12-5-1	Home/Away	10-7-3
4-6-0	Last 10	6-4-0
2.72	GF/G	3.15
2.64	GA/G	3.23
20.0	PP%	13.6
82.5	PK%	77.0
46.12	CF%	54.38



Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Benn – Seguin – Gurianov Janmark – Hintz – Radulov Comeau – Faksa – Comeau Shore – Spezza – Nichushkin	Drouin – Domi – Byron Tatar – Danault – Gallagher Lehkonen – Kotkaniemi – Shaw Agostino – Chaput – Deslauriers
Defensemen
Lindell – Klingberg Heiskanen – Polak Carrick – Honka	Mete – Weber Reilly – Petry Kulak – Benn
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Ritchie Injured: Methot, Johns, Dickinson, Fedun	Scratched: Peca, Hudon, Alzner Injured: Armia, Schlemko, Price
Goalies
Ben Bishop	Antti Niemi

Record: 13-9-1 GAA: – 2.25 Sv%: – .926 SO: 2 Alternate: Anton Khudobin	Record: 5-4-1 GAA: – 4.21 Sv%: – .870 SO: 0 Alternate: Michael McNiven

What to Expect by Sam Gerber

The Dallas Stars have been an ongoing soap opera following comments from their CEO about their best players, Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin. Both players haven’t had the best season and the CEO believes enough is enough. This will either light a fire under both of the players or could have the reverse effect. This is the last game of the road trip for the Habs and a big win would be the perfect way to end 2018.

Highlights from the NHL

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2018-19 statistics