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

Sam Gerber

7 years ago

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	2017-18 statistics	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.

Highlights from the NHL

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2017-18 statistics