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GAME PREVIEW | Canadiens – Blue Jackets: Crucial Game for Habs

Sam Gerber

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

Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game : MTL 6  FLA 1   The Canadiens were focused, starting with a three-goal first period and another two in the second. The Panthers got one back on the power-play early in the third but the Habs were in full control. Paul Byron exited the game early after accepting a fight from MacKenzie Weegar. Byron did not accompany the team for their road trip. 

For a complete game recap: Habs Clobber Florida

Players to watch

  • Andrew Shaw
    Shaw will be counted on to tap his experience and play a leadership role in the Canadiens biggest game of the season.
  • Carey Price
    The only reason that Montreal is playing for a playoff spot this late in the season is Price. He has been phenomenal in what many are describing as another Vezina-worthy season. 
  • Jonathan Drouin
    For all of his poor play and bad attitude, Drouin owes his teammates a solid performance tonight. Drouin has been coasting most of the season but that has to end tonight with the Habs needing contributions from every player in the lineup. 

Keys to Victory

  • Leave it on the ice
    This match is far more important to the Canadiens than the Blue Jackets. The Habs need to make the sacrifices necessary to succeed in a must win game.
  • Contain emotions
    This game should feature physical play. But Montreal cannot afford to take any bad penalties.
  • Follow the game plan
    No matter what happens from the drop of the puck, the Canadiens must stick to teh script. The Blue Jackets have the ability to control a game.
Statistical Matchup by All Habs staff
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH | March 28, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, FS-O

2018-19 statistics
BLUE JACKETS CANADIENS
88 (15th) Points (rank) 90 (13th)
42-30-4 Record 41-28-8
21-16-2 Home/Away 18-16-4
5-4-1 Last 10 5-4-1
3.04 GF/G 3.00
2.86 GA/G 2.86
15.5 PP% 12.4
84.5 PK% 80.6
50.06  CF%  54.09
Pre-game quote
Claude Julien
  • “It’s huge for us and it’s huge for them. It is a big game but we’re going to try approach it the same way we’ve approached every other one so far. It’s served us well.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Panarin – Dubois – Atkinson
Dzingel – Duchene – Anderson
Bjorkstrand – Wennberg – Jenner
Foligno – Dubinsky – Nash		 Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Lehkonen – Domi – Shaw
Drouin – Kotkaniemi – Armia
Deslauriers – Thompson – Weal
Defensemen
 Werenski – Jones
Nutivaara – Savard
Kukan – McQuaid		 Mete – Weber
Kulak – Petry
   Benn – Folin
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Robinson, Harrington, Kincaid, Sedlak, Hannikainen
Injured: Murray
 Scratched: Reilly, Hudon, Peca, Weise, Lindgren
Injured: Byron
Goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky Carey Price
Record: 33-23-1
GAA: – 2.62
Sv%: – .911
SO: 8
Alternate: Joonas Korpisalo		 Record: 33-22-6
GAA: – 2.48
Sv%: – .918
SO: 4
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
This is the game of the season with the Blue Jackets sitting two points behind the Habs with a game in hand. The game should be a dog fight with both teams not giving an inch. Expect a ton of net battles. Both teams are going to want to win in regulation making the game even more intense. The Habs have to be careful not to get pushed around by a physical Blue Jackets squad. Neither can Montreal take dumb penalties. This game should be fast and intense.
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