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

Sam Gerber

6 years ago

Game Preview by Sam Gerber

Last game : MTL 1 NSH 4 The Canadiens came out flat against the Predators, something that you simply just can’t do in today’s NHL. The Preds pounced on the opportunity, leading by two goals after the first period. Shea Weber briefly got the Habs back on track in the second but Nashville replied quickly. It was a dismal effort and one that they can’t afford to have again this season.

For a complete game recap: Habs Dominated by Preds Start to Finish

Players to watch

Mike Reilly
Reilly missed his first chance to play his former team but will be in the line-up tonight with a chip on his shoulder. He has been struggling the past few games and needs to get back on track against his former team.
Max Domi
Domi is officially in a scoring slump, again. Domi hasn’t been consistent since October. For the Habs to make the playoffs, they need Domi to find his scoring touch once again.
Paul Byron
Byron finds himself back with the two Finns. When together earlier in the season, Byron along with Artturi Lehkonen and Jesperi Kotkaniemi were very effective.

Keys to Victory

Be ready from the start
The Habs came out flat from the start against the Predators. They learned that they must be ready right from the get go.
Generate offense
The Canadiens need to generate offense. It will be tough going up against a strong defensive team in the Wild.
Play their game
Montreal played the Wild’s style last game and were demolished by Minnesota. They must play their game from the start.

Matchup by All Habs staff
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC \| January 7, 7:30 PM ET \| TV: TSN2, RDS, FS-N
	2018-19 statistics
WILD	2018-19 statistics	CANADIENS
43 (19th)	Points (rank)	45 (14th)
20-17-3	Record	22-15-5
10-10-0	Away/Home	11-8-2
4-5-1	Last 10	6-4-0
2.95	GF/G	3.07
2.83	GA/G	3.14
22.4	PP%	13.0
84.7	PK%	77.8
50.55	CF%	54.34



Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Zucker – Staal – Granlund Parise – Coyle – Kunin Greenway – Koivu – Niederreiter Foligno – Fehr – Brown	Drouin – Domi – Armia Tatar – Danault – Gallagher Lehkonen – Kotkaniemi – Byron Agostino – Chaput – Deslauriers
Defensemen
Suter – Spurgeon Brodin – Pateryn Seeler – Prosser	Mete – Weber Reilly – Petry Kulak – Benn
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Hendricks, Murphy Injured: Dumba	Scratched: Peca, Hudon, Alzner Injured: Shaw
Goalies
Devan Dubnyk	Carey Price

Record: 15-14-3 GAA: – 2.64 Sv%: – .912 SO: 0 Alternate: Alex Stalock	Record: 16-11-4 GAA: – 2.76 Sv%: – .908 SO: 2 Alternate: Antti Niemi

What to Expect by Sam Gerber

The Canadiens were embarrassed by the Wild a few weeks ago suffering a crushing 7-1 loss. The Habs need to answer back for that game and the lack of effort against the Predators. Montreal knows that they have to perform much better but have a tough match-up against the Wild. It starts at puck drop. The Canadiens must come out flying and give a full team effort.

Highlights from the NHL

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2018-19 statistics