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GAME PREVIEW | Canadiens – Capitals: Habs Look to End Losing Skid

Sam Gerber

GAME DAY | Montreal Canadiens vs 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 3  DET 4  F   The Habs collapsed in the third period and allowed the worst team in the league to sweep the season series 4-0. It was a tough loss, as the Habs hit rock bottom. Plenty of questions have been raised about who is responsible as Montreal’s playoff chances are essentially over.

For a complete game recap: No Skates for Habs Coach

Players to watch

  • Jeff Petry
    Predictably, Petry scored in his home town against the Red Wings. But in his prrevious five games, he did not record a point and was a minus-4. Word is that Marc Bergevin will not trade Petry, despite the interest by playoff teams.
  • Jonathan Drouin
    Drouin has been a shell of himself since returning from injury. In five games, he has been a liability to his team with no points, a minus-7 rating and six minutes in penalties.
  • Ilya Kovalchuk
    Kovalchuk has not registered a point in the past five game and is a minus-4. His trade value should still be high but Marc Bergevin can’t wait too long to deal him.   

Keys to Victory

  • Build confidence
    It’s hard to have confidence with how the season has gone but these are NHL players who are capable of playing some really good hockey and its time they show that.
  • Bend don’t break
    If something doesn’t go the Habs way it’s important that it doesn’t get to them and they stay focused and get it back. 
  • Don’t collapse
    The Habs lead the league in third period collapses. It’s a statistic that reflects poorly on the coaching staff and the Habs will not want to add to it.
Statistical Matchup by All Habs
Capital One Arena, Washington, DC | February 20, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, NBCSWA, NBCSN

2019-20 statistics
CAPITALS CANADIENS
79 (4th) Points (rank) 62 (23rd)
37-17-5 Record 27-27-8
16-9-4 Home/Away 14-12-3
4-6-0 Last 10 5-4-1
3.47 GF/G 2.95
3.02 GA/G 3.08
20.7 PP% 19.6
83.9 PK% 79.1
52.02  CF% 54.08
Pre-game quotes
Claude Julien
  • “From here to the end of the year, no matter what happens, we have to improve as a hockey club and I want to see guys that are ready to improve and continue to show that they want to get better and that’s what I’m looking for.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders by All Habs
Forwards
Ovechkin – Backstrom – Wilson
Vrana – Kuznetsov – Oshie
Hagelin – Eller – Panik
Boyd – Dowd – Hathaway		 Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Drouin – Suzuki – Armia
Lehkonen – Domi – Kovalchuk
Byron – Thompson – Cousins
Defensemen
Dillon – Carlson
Orlov – Jensen
Kempny – Gudas		 Chiarot – Weber
Kulak – Petry
 Ouellet – Folin
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Leipsic, Siegenthaler
Injured: 
 Scratched: Weise, Weal
Injured: Mete
Goalies
Braden Holtby Carey Price
Record: 21-13-4
GAA: – 3.11
Sv%: – .897
SO: 0
Alternate: Ilya Samsonov		 Record: 24-22-5
GAA: – 2.76
Sv%: – .910
SO: 3
Alternate: Charlie Lindgren
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
With only two games left until the deadline, it might be the last game with the Habs for some players. The Habs need to put an end to the losing streak and turn to positive vibes for the rest of the season. It won’t be easy going up against one of the best teams in the East but the Habs can rise to the occasion if they feel up for the challenge.
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