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

Sam Gerber

January 4, 2018

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

Game Preview by Sam Gerber

Last game: MTL 1 SJS 4

The Sharks handled the Habs with ease. Carey Price was the best player once again as the Canadiens defense and offence continues to struggle.

For a complete recap: Sharks Extend Habs Losing Streak

Players to watch

Steven Stamkos
Stamkos scored two goals against Montreal last week and will likely have another great game if he exploits the Canadiens defence.
Nikita Kucherov
Kucherov made a game changing play last time these two teams met. He likely won’t be held goalless tonight.
Mikhail Sergachev
Sergachev is having a superb season earning his ice time on a very talented Lightning team.

Keys to Victory

Bend don’t break
The Habs will defend most of the night but need to be strong in their own end supporting Carey Price.
Work harder
Players spoke about passengers in the game against the Sharks. There can be none against the first place Lightning.
Finish chances, finish periods
Canadiens must take full advantage of any scoring opportunities that they create and play to the end of periods.

Matchup by All Habs staff
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC \| January 4, 7:30 PM ET \| TV: TSN2, RDS, SUN
	2017-18 statistics
LIGHTNING	2017-18 statistics	CANADIENS
60 (1st)	Points (rank)	36 (28th)
29-8-2	Record	16-20-4
13-5-1	Away/Home	9-8-3
8-2-0	Last 10	3-7-0
3.69	GF/G	2.50
2.36	GA/G	3.13
25.2	PP%	19.0
79.4	PK%	77.6
52.44	CF%	51.01


Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Namestnikov – Stamkos – Kucherov Palat – Point – Johnson Killorn – Gourde – Conacher Kunitz – Paquette – Callahan	Pacioretty – Danault – Hudon Galchenyuk – Drouin – Lehkonen Byron – Plekanec – Gallagher Deslauriers – Shaw – Carr
Defensemen
Hedman – Dotchin Sergachev – Stralman Coburn – Girardi	Benn – Petry Alzner – Schlemko Morrow – Jerabek
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Koekkoek, Sustr, Brown Injured: Budaj	Scratched: De La Rose, Froese Injured: Weber, Hemsky, Montoya
Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy	Carey Price

Record: 26-5-1 GAA: 1.95 Sv%: .937 SO: 6 Alternate: Louis Domingue	Record: 11-14-2 GAA: 3.01 Sv%: .906 SO: 1 Alternate: Antti Niemi

What to Expect

The Canadiens lost 3-1 to the Lightning a week ago, in what was considered a good game for the Habs. The fans may focus attention on Mikhail Sergachev as he continues to outplay Jonathan Drouin this season.

Prediction: Canadiens 2 Lightning 5

The Habs are at all time low and the Lightning can take advantage of it.

Highlights from the NHL

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Tickets


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2017-18 statistics