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

By
Sam Gerber
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Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game: MTL 2  PIT 5  

Brendan Gallagher reached the 50-point mark, Antti Niemi was a rebound machine, and the penalty kill gave up goal after goal.

For a complete recap: Pens Power-play Buries Habs

Players to watch

  • Jonathan Drouin
    Drouin showed last night while he needs to shoot more often but was also dismal at the faceoff dot going 2-for-17 or a paltry 12 per cent.
  • Taylor Hall
    Hall has my vote this year for the Hart trophy, showing why he was drafted first overall and is almost single-handedly powering the Devils into a playoff spot.
  • Kerby Rychel
    Rychel is expected in the Habs lineup following his recall from Laval. Rychel likes to shoot the puck but is not the fleetest of foot.

Keys to Victory

  • Kill a penalty
    This is one area of the Canadiens difficulties where personnel is not the issue despite what Claude Julien says.
  • Defend the paint
    Price having to stand up for himself against the Devils will never be forgotten. Canadiens should ensure that no opposition player crashes the net tonight.
  • Shoot the puck
    The Habs need to get pucks on the Devils goaltender to create opportunities for rebounds.
Matchup by All Habs staff
Bell Center, Montreal, QC | April 1, 7:00 PM ET | TV: SN, RDS, MSG+

2017-18 statistics
DEVILS CANADIENS
91 (17th) Points (rank) 68 (28th)
41-28-9 Record 28-38-12
20-14-5 Away/Home 18-13-8
7-2-1 Last 10 3-7-0
2.96 GF/G 2.51
2.96 GA/G 3.13
21.3 PP% 21.2
81.8 PK% 73.8
 48.44  CF%  50.32
eSAT Analytics by Mathieu Chagnon
 
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Hall – Hischier – Palmieri
Grabner – Zacha – Maroon
Coleman – Zajac – Noesen
Wood – Boyle – Gibbons		 Byron – Drouin – Gallagher
Galchenyuk – De La Rose – Lehkonen
Scherbak – L. Shaw – Rychel
Deslauriers – McCarron – Carr
Defensemen
Greene – Vatanen
Moore – Severson
Mueller – Butcher 		 Benn – Petry
Alzner – Juulsen
Schlemko – Lernout
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Lovejoy, Hayes, Stafford, Bratt
Injured:
 Scratched: Froese, Reilly, Hudon
Injured: Weber, Hemsky, Pacioretty, Mete, Valiev, Danault, A. Shaw
Goalies
Keith Kincaid Carey Price
Record: 23-10-3
GAA: 2.89
Sv%: .910
SO: 1
Alternate: Cory Schneider		 Record: 16-24-6
GAA: 3.07
Sv%: .902
SO: 1
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
Prediction: Canadiens 2  Devils 3 

The Devils are hanging on to the final playoff spot with the Panthers hot in pursuit. New Jersey will forecheck hard. The Habs will play a more open game, looking for a stretch pass or two. With Price in the net all eyes will be on him to steal a game and give the Devils playoff chances some troubles.
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