GAME DAY | Stars – Canadiens: Preview, Lines, Goalies, TV, Fantasy
Jordan Lambe
Pre-game Notes and Quotes
To say that the Canadiens have an injury problem would be an understatement, as it’s more like an epidemic. Not only has Carey Price been out for majority of the season, their current roster is missing Brendan Gallagher, Nathan Beaulieu, Alex Galchenyuk, David Desharnais, Jeff Petry, Daniel Carr, Tom Gilbert, Lars Eller, and Brian Flynn. That’s nine players from their original roster to start the season (the severity of the injuries to Gallagher and Galchenyuk remain unknown). Although I like to remain optimistic, it would be very hard to turn the season around and make the playoffs with so many injuries.
In light of the current lineup at the infirmary, many of the Canadiens’ prospects are getting the chance to prove themselves and gain experience at the NHL level. Michael McCarron, who turned 21 on Monday, had this to say about his most recent trial in the NHL: “I feel a bit more comfortable, and I’ve been getting more accustomed to the guys in the room and the speed of the game. I think anybody would say that the difference between the NHL and the AHL is the speed. Everybody also makes perfect passes; every play is crisp and perfect, my goal is to stay here as long as I can. I just need to continue to improve and progress and stick to my style of play.”
Alex Galchenyuk scored his 20th goal of the season on Saturday night and became only the 8th Canadien in history to accomplish the feat twice before their 23rd birthday.
While the Canadiens have a 5-16-2 record versus teams in the Western Conference this season, the Stars have a 18-9-2 record against teams from the East.
So far this season, the Canadiens have a 2-8-2 record versus teams in the Central division, while the Stars have a 8-5-1 record versus teams coming from the Atlantic.
The Canadiens have dropped in the standings for the goals against category, as they are currently in 21st in the league in goals against, with 185 in 66 games. The Stars have allowed 192 goals in 67 games and find themselves in 22ed in the league.
The Canadiens have dropped in the standings for the goals scored category as they are currently in 13th place in the NHL, with 179 over their first 66 games. The Stars are 1st in this category with 215 goals scored in their first 67 games.
Matchup
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC.. | March 8, 7:30 PM ET | TV: FS-SW, RDS, SNE, NHL.TV
2015-16 statistics
STARS
CANADIENS
87 (3rd)
Points (League rank)
66 (22nd)
40-20-7
Record
30-30-6
21-10-1
Home
17-11-3
19-10-6
Road
13-19-2
3-5-2
Last 10
3-5-2
3.21
G/G
2.71
2.87
GA/G
2.80
21.8
PP%
17.3
79.7
PK%
84.5
52.3
CF%*
52.3
58.8
CF60*
55.5
51.1
CA60*
50.5
*Advanced statistics: Score adjusted, even strength. CF%: Corsi for percentage of total CF60: Corsi For/60 minutes CA60: Corsi Against/60 minutes (via War on Ice)
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
