GAME DAY | Flames – Canadiens: Preview, Lines, Goalies, TV, Fantasy

• Michel Therrien has already been criticized by many for his lack of proper player utilization, and his quote from Saturday night’s game only added fuel to the fire. Therrien had this to say following a very embarrassing loss to the Senators: “I’ve never witnessed anything like this, lack of concentration”
• After what many fans are regarding as a “rock bottom” performance (in part to the three short-handed goals allowed), look for a more inspired performance from Les Canadiens today. Surely a loss of this magnitude has to resonate in the locker room as I am sure no professional athlete enjoys losing in such a manner.
• The Canadiens will finish their 16th and final set of back to back games today against the Flames (they also played 16 back to back sets in the 2014-15 season). Only the Blue Jackets, Penguins, Rangers and Wings have had to play more back to back games than the Canadiens this season.
• Niklas Backstrom will make, not only his Flames debut, but also his 2015-16 season debut against the Canadiens today. Backstrom was a mainstay healthy scratch (when he was actually healthy) in Minnesota, and now, more than 14 months since his last game, Backstrom will get his chance to impress the Flames management who took the risk acquiring him.
• While the Canadiens have a 6-17-3 record versus teams in the Western Conference this season, the Flames have a 14-14-2 record against teams from the East.
• So far this season, the Canadiens have a 3-8-1 record versus teams in the Atlantic division, while the Flames have a 6-7-1 record versus teams coming from the Atlantic.
• The Canadiens have maintained their place in the standings for the goals against category, as they are currently in 22ed in the league in goals against, with 205 in 72 games. The Flames have allowed 222 goals in 71 games and find themselves in 29th in the league.
• The Canadiens have dropped down in the standings for the goals scored category as they are currently in 17th place in the NHL, with 191 over their first 72 games. The Flames are 10th in this category with 196 goals scored in their first 71 games.

2015-16 statistics

• Top scorers for the Flames on the road this season are:

1. Sam Bennett* (with 21 points in 33 games)
2. Johnny Gaudreau (with 18 points in 33 games)
3. Mark Giordano (with 17 points in 33 games)

• Top scorers for the Canadiens at home this season are:

1. Tomas Plekanec and P.K. Subban* (both with 26 points in 35 and 33 games respectively)
2. Max Pacioretty (with 25 points in 35 games)
3. Alex Galchenyuk (with 22 points in 36 games)

* – Currently injured

Player stats from War-on-Ice, NHL.com and Yahoo Sports.

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