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

Sam Gerber

7 years ago

Game Preview by Sam Gerber

Last game: MTL 0 CAR 2

The Canadiens were shutout once again and lacked a compete level all game. The second goal against had blown coverage by everyone on the ice and gave the Canes an easy one.

For a complete recap: Habs Shutout for 7th Time this Season

Players to watch

Nikita Scherbak
Scherbak was recalled on Friday night and should give the Habs some much needed energy and offensive talent. Scherbak was fitting in well at the very beginning of the season before he got injured.
Ryan Kesler
Kesler is a huge pain to play against and will give the Habs nightmares. He is dominant in the face-off circle and loves to stand in-front of the net.
Rickard Rakell
Rakell has turned in the Ducks biggest offensive weapon and is about to reach his prime. His compete level on every play is a big part of why his line produces.

Keys to Victory

Win a face-off or two
The Canadiens were embarrassed in the face-off circle last game and will be in tough again. The Ducks currently have four centers capable of playing in the top-6 that all are great in the dot.
Prepare to get physical
The Ducks are big team that will try to come in to Montreal and push them out of the building. The Habs need to match their physicality and make them hard to play against.
Find the net
The Canadiens need to put everything on the net and to take chances leading to odd man rushes.

Matchup by All Habs staff
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC \| February 3, 1:00 PM ET \| TV: TSN2, RDS, FS-W
	2017-18 statistics
DUCKS	2017-18 statistics	CANADIENS
60 (15th)	Points (rank)	46 (28th)
25-17-10	Record	20-25-6
11-8-7	Away/Home	12-10-5
6-3-1	Last 10	3-5-2
2.73	GF/G	2.51
2.67	GA/G	3.12
17.5	PP%	19.7
82.2	PK%	78.5
47.49	CF%	51.09

eSAT Analytics by Mathieu Chagnon

Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Rakell – Getzlaf – Silfverberg Cogliano – Kesler – Brown Ritchie – Henrique – Kase Wagner – Vermette – Perry	Pacioretty – Byron – Hudon Galchenyuk – Drouin – Scherbak Lehkonen – Plekanec – Gallagher Deslauriers – Froese – L. Shaw
Defensemen
Fowler – Bieksa Lindholm – Manson Beauchemin – Montour	Alzner – Petry Mete – Schlemko Morrow – Benn
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Holzer, Grant Injured: Gibson, Eaves	Scratched: Jerabek, Carr, De La Rose Injured: Weber, Hemsky, Danault, A. Shaw
Goalies
Ryan Miller	Antti Niemi

Record: 6-2-5 GAA: 2.19 Sv%: .928 SO: 2 Alternate: Reto Berra	Record: 1-5-1 GAA: 4.44 Sv%: .869 SO: 0 Alternate: Carey Price

What to Expect

Prediction: Canadiens 5 Ducks 3

The Ducks are big team that uses their size to create energy and puck control. The Habs won’t be able to lift their foot off the gas all game and need to take it to Anaheim to shake them from their game plan. Niemi will be getting the start today after picking up his first win of the season against the Capitals.

Highlights from the NHL

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2017-18 statistics