Site icon Habs Hockey Report

GAME PREVIEW | Blue Jackets – Canadiens: Price to Make 44th Start

Rick Stephens

GAME DAY | Montreal Canadiens vs Columbus Blue Jackets: Preview, TV,  Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Habs Tickets

Game Preview 
Last game : MTL 4  FLA 0  F   The Canadiens started strong and kept their opponent off balance all game long. The Panthers didn’t get back on track until the third period and when they did, Carey Price was there to shut the door.

For a complete game recap: Price Takes Third on Habs All-time Shutout List

Players to watch

  • Jeff Petry
    Petry had a career high four assists against the Panthers on Saturday bringing his season total to 33 points.  
  • Artturi Lehkonen
    Lehkonen had a very strong game against Florida using the forecheck to create turnovers. He had a goal on five shots and was named third star of the game.
  • Carey Price
    Price set a major milestone against the Panthers recording the 47th shutout of his career. Price passed Ken Dryden to take sole position of third place on the Canadiens all-time list. Price will make his fifth straight start today.

Keys to Victory

  • Improve shot selection
    The Blue Jackets play a tightly structured defensive system. The Habs will need more than an abundance of perimeter shots to score.
  • Create traffic
    The Canadiens will need to go to the net against Columbus taking away the vision from goaltender Elvis Merzlikins. He has nine wins in 21 games this season.
  • Kill penalties
    Other than a hiccup against the Capitals, Montreal has been strong on the penalty-kill for the last month. It has significantly improved since earlier in the season. 
Statistical Matchup by All Habs
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | February 2, 2:00 PM ET | TV: SN1, SNO, SNE, TVAS,  FS-O

2019-20 statistics
BLUE JACKETS CANADIENS
63 (9th) Points (rank) 55 (22nd)
27-16-9 Record 24-22-7
11-7-7 Away/Home 11-13-4
8-1-1 Last 10 6-4-0
2.67 GF/G 3.04
2.50 GA/G 3.04
17.4 PP% 20.4
81.9 PK% 79.3
48.47  CF% 53.73
Pre-game quotes
Tomas Tatar
  • “I don’t think it’s over until it’s over. We have 29 games left and we’re playing a lot of these games against our divisional teams, and if we will be able to beat them, we still have a small chance [to make the playoffs].”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders by All Habs
Forwards
Foligno – Dubois – Bjorkstrand
Nyquist – Wennberg – Atkinson
Gerbe – Jenner – Bemstrom
 Lilja – Nash – Robinson		 Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Kovalchuk – Suzuki – Armia
Lehkonen – Domi – Cousins
Poehling – Thompson – Weise
Defensemen
Werenski – Jones
Gavrikov – Savard
Harrington – Nutivaara		 Chiarot – Weber
Kulak – Petry
Scandella – Mete 
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Milano
Injured: Dubinsky, Anderson, Korpisalo, Texier, Murray, Kukan
 Scratched: Weal
Injured: Drouin, Byron
Goalies
Elvis Merzlikins Carey Price
Record: 9-6-3
GAA: – 2.39
Sv%: – .926
SO: 3
Alternate: Matiss Kivlenieks		 Record: 22-17-4
GAA: – 2.74
Sv%: – .911
SO: 3
Alternate: Charlie Lindgren
 What to Expect 
The Blue Jackets have only lost two of their past 23 games in regulation. Columbus had a six-game winning streak come to an end in Buffalo on Saturday as they lost to the Sabres in overtime. Today’s game will be a tough test for the Habs. Both teams will play their second game of a back-to-back.
Quick Links from Rocket Sports Media publications
 
 
 
 
 
Tickets
   
   
Get Habs Tickets  
  • Need tickets for an upcoming Canadiens game? Click the following link for the best prices on available tickets: Montreal Canadiens Tickets

Follow @AllHabs on Twitter

Exit mobile version