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GAME PREVIEW | Canadiens – Capitals: Habs Focus on One for the Road

Sam Gerber

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

Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game : MTL 4  TBL 2   The Canadiens were a desperate club and it lead to a full team commitment. The Habs were ready right from puck drop. A bad shift from Max Domi and a bad bounce got Tampa off to an early lead. Montreal’s new fourth line answered back later in the period. In the second period, Joel Armia banked in his own rebound from a bad angle. The third period was very tight checking. But an incredible effort by Artturi Lehkonen produced the game winner. The Habs played a strong 60-minute game. Julien said that he hoped that this was the first game of an eight game series.

For a complete game recap: Lehkonen Leads Habs to Crucial Win

Players to watch

  • Max Domi
    Domi has shown that he is an emotional player and lives for big moments. Montreal needs need him more than ever. He will have to channel his emotions. Domi was  victimized defensively last game and that can’t happen again if the Habs want to beat the reigning Cup Champs.
  • Joel Armia
    Armia has goals in back-to-back games and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Armia has been very effective using his big body to own the puck. 
  • Victor Mete
    Mete is the best skating Habs defenceman. Mete has been taking opportunities to  jump into the rush to create attack option for the Canadiens. Could it result in Mete’s first NHL goal? 

Keys to Victory

  • Repeat the intensity
    The Habs need to match their intensity from last game against the Lightning. Washington is still playing for home ice in the playoffs and aren’t going to be a push- over. The Habs have to come out just as desperate and go head-to-head with last years Cup champs.
  • Finish opportunities
    The Habs had plenty of high-quality scoring chances last game and easily could have had a few more goals if they could have finished. They’re not as likely to get as many  tonight so it’s going to be even more important that the Habs finish their opportunities.
  • Shut down Ovie
    Ovie has been a one-man wrecking crew against the Habs and most teams his whole career. The Canadiens will have to shut him down to have a chance.  
Statistical Matchup by All Habs staff
Capital One Arena, Washington, DC | April 4, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, NBCSN, NBCSWA

2018-19 statistics
CAPITALS CANADIENS
102 (4th) Points (rank) 94 (14th)
47-25-8 Record 43-29-8
23-10-6 Home/Away 19-17-4
6-3-1 Last 10 6-3-1
3.40 GF/G 3.00
3.05 GA/G 2.86
21.0 PP% 12.5
79.1 PK% 80.8
49.15  CF%  54.14
Pre-game quote
Claude Julien
  • “They go out there, they play hard. We’re not playing tight. We’ve lost some tough games, but for the most part I think we’ve been a really good hockey club and we need two more of those kind of games here before the end of the season.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Ovechkin – Backstrom – Wilson
 Vrana – Kuznetsov – Oshie
Hagelin – Eller – Connolly
Burakovsky – Dowd – Boyd		 Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Lehkonen – Domi – Shaw
Drouin – Weal – Armia
Kotkaniemi – Thompson – Byron
Defensemen
 Carlson- Jensen
Orlov – Niskanen
Orpik – Djoos		 Mete – Weber
Kulak – Petry
   Benn – Folin
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Stephenson, Jaskin, Siegenthaler
Injured: Kempny
 Scratched: Reilly, Hudon, Deslauriers, Weise, Lindgren, Peca, Poehling
Injured: none
Goalies
Braden Holtby Carey Price
Record: 31-19-5
GAA: – 2.85
Sv%: – .910
SO: 3
Alternate: Pheonix Copley		 Record: 35-23-6
GAA: – 2.50
Sv%: – .917
SO: 4
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
Artturi Lehkonen said the Habs are going to win the next two games and make the playoffs. It’s a very bold statement but you have to admire his attitude. The Canadiens  are going to have a hard time matching their desperation from last game. The Capitals  are ready for the playoffs but haven’t secured home ice advantage yet. It will be game number 66 for Carey Price, which is a very heavy workload. It’s time for the Canadiens to step up rather than relying on Price to steal a game. 
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