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

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Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game : MTL 6  WSH 4  

The Habs played their most exciting game of the season. And the fan excitement was generated primarily by the youngest player in the lineup, Jesperi Kotkaniemi. The 18-year old started the game off with a short side snipe for his first goal in the NHL and later tied the game lifting the roof off the Bell Centre. The Habs continue to surprise the league and have shown they have three lines that are capable of scoring. After tying the game at four, Alex Ovechkin found himself in the slot, puck on his stick, with under a minute to go. But then Max Domi picked his pocket went the other way, scoring the game winner. The building erupted capping off a perfect night for Kotkaniemi with a win, two goals and a first star selection.

For a complete game recap: Habs Fans Loving Kotkaniemi 

Players to watch

  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi
    Kotkaniemi not only scored last game but he scored twice with his second goal tying  the game. With his confidence high, Kotkaniemi will looking to keep scoring and won’t be afraid of making mistakes.
  • Max Domi
    Domi’s wiliness to be defensive reliable was the difference maker last game. It’s been obvious to me that Domi lives for the big moment and is thriving in Montreal.
  • Victor Mete
    On the game tying goal, Mete was the player who flew into the zone and backed the defense off with his speed. He helped make the play happen and should do that more often.

Keys to Victory

  • Keep it close
    Keeping it close against the Lightning will be tricky but also a good test for this young team.
  • Execute on special teams
    The Lightning have a number of talented shooters on their team who always find space on the power-play.
  • Feed off the crowd
    The excitement level during Thursday’s game was off the charts in the Bell Centre. The Canadiens need to stoke that energy with and good start, then feed off the emotion to stay with the Lightning. 
Matchup by All Habs staff
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | November 3, 7:00 PM ET | TV: SN360, CITY, TVAS, SUN

2018-19 statistics

LIGHTNING CANADIENS
17 (3rd) Points (rank) 16 (9th)
8-3-1 Record 7-3-2
3-1-1 Away/Home 5-2-0
7-2-1 Last 10 6-3-1
3.42 GF/G 3.25
2.83 GA/G 2.75
27.9 PP% 15.6
93.3 PK% 78.0
53.48  CF%  53.28
eSAT Analytics by Mathieu Chagnon
 
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Miller – Stamkos – Kucherov
Gourde – Point – Johnson
Killorn – Cirelli – Joseph
Erne – Paquette – Callahan
Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Drouin – Domi – Hudon
Lehkonen – Kotkaniemi – Armia
Deslauriers – Peca – Shaw
Defensemen
McDonagh – Stralman
Koekkoek – Girardi
Coburn – Sergachev
Benn – Petry
Reilly – Juulsen
 Ouellet – Mete
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Martel, Stralman
Injured: Hedman, Palat
Scratched: Alzner
Injured: Byron, Weber, Schlemko, Plekanec
Goalies
Andrei Vasilevsky Carey Price
Record: 6-2-1
GAA: – 2.09
Sv%: – .930
SO: 1
Alternate: Louis Domingue
Record: 5-2-2
GAA: – 2.43
Sv%: – .910
SO: 1
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
The Canadiens are seen to be the underdog in tonight’s game, just like Thursday night. But after a rollercoaster win, the Habs are a confident team that know they can beat any team in the league. The Lightning are coming off a disappointing loss and will be looking to prove why they are one of the teams predicted to win the Stanley Cup. That being said, the Habs are only one point behind them in the standings. A win for Montreal would put them in first in the division. The Lightning are a skilled team who don’t make many mistakes. Drouin who only has one point in the last four games, needs to be a difference maker against his former team. 
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