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GAME PREVIEW | Blackhawks – Canadiens: An Original Six Matchup

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GAME PREVIEW | Blackhawks – Canadiens: An Original Six Matchup

GAME DAY | Chicago Blackhawks – Montreal Canadiens: Preview, TV,  Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Odds, Habs Tickets

Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game : MTL 1  NYI 2    The Canadiens let points slip away after a costly turnover in the final few minutes of the game sealed their fate. The Habs were outplayed for most of the game and relied heavily on Price to keep them in it. Montreal settled for perimeter shots all night not truly testing Thomas Greiss. Jordie Benn notched his career high fifth goal of the season. 

For a complete game recap: Tough Loss Hurts Habs Playoff Chances

Players to watch

  • Andrew Shaw
    Shaw was very public after last game calling out his teammates for taking nights off.  Shaw should be very noticeable tonight playing his former team.
  • Brett Kulak
    Kulak made a decision to pinch that was part of the Islanders game-winning goal. Jonathan Drouin made a terrible no-look pass and Max Domi committed a turnover. Even with the gaffe, it is clear that Claude Julien trusts Kulak over Reilly right now. 
  • Tomas Tatar
    Tatar has been contributing to the Canadiens offence this season but he needs to  take his game up a notch and be a difference maker.

Keys to Victory

  • Use speed
    The Canadiens have to play to their strengths and play with speed.
  • Clear the zone
    A controlled breakout will allow the Habs to maintain possession and not get bottled up in their own end.
  • Play with urgency
    Montreal has not played desperate hockey lately. With just left eleven games left and some catching up to do it is time they play with a lot of it.
Statistical Matchup by All Habs staff
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | March 16, 7:00 PM ET | TV: CITY, SNE, TVAS, WGN

2018-19 statistics

BLACKHAWKS CANADIENS
71 (22nd) Points (rank) 81 (14th)
31-30-9 Record 37-27-7
15-17-3 Away/Home 20-11-4
6-4-0 Last 10 4-6-0
3.39 GF/G 2.96
3.70 GA/G 2.96
20.9 PP% 12.1
73.0 PK% 80.5
48.87  CF%  54.16
Scouting the odds
While Montreal tumbles out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, Chicago is making a push in the West thanks to a four-game win streak. But recent results have not skewed the moneyline for Saturday’s game. A quick odds comparison shows that Montreal is about a -160 favorite. While Montreal is 20-15 at home (for betting purposes) and the Hawks are well under .500 on the road (15-20), these teams are playing closer to their preseason projections lately. The better value is on the underdog here.
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Saad – Toews – Sikura
Kahun – Anisimov – Kane
DeBrincat – Strome – Perlini
Kunitz – Kampf – Kruger
Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Lehkonen – Domi – Shaw
Drouin – Kotkaniemi – Armia
Byron – Thompson – Weal
Defensemen
 Keith – Gustafsson
Forsling – Seabrook
Koekkoek – Murphy
Mete – Weber
Kulak – Petry
   Benn – Folin
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Dahlstrom, Hayden
Injured: Caggiula
Scratched: Reilly, Hudon, Deslauriers, Peca, Weise, Lindgren
Injured: none
Goalies
Corey Crawford Carey Price
Record: 11-15-2
GAA: – 3.18
Sv%: – .902
SO: 1
Alternate: Cam Ward
Record: 29-21-5
GAA: – 2.58
Sv%: – .915
SO: 3
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
An original six match up on a Saturday night doesn’t get much better. While the Canadiens are two points away from a playoff spot, the Blackhawks would have to run the table to give themselves a shot. If the Habs are ready to play and are confident in themselves they should be able to handle the Hawks. Chicago still has one of the best scorers in the league and have won four in a row. The Habs can’t take them lightly  needing this game if they want a chance at making the playoffs.
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