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

Game Preview by Sam Gerber

Last game : MTL 2 CBJ 6 The Canadiens had their chance to separate themselves in the playoff race and they failed. It was a real shame after such a strong start to the game where the Habs were up a goal after the first period. The Blue Jackets weren’t ready to start the game but that changed in the second period. They came out flying and tied the game up. Jeff Petry answered right back restoring the one goal lead but the Blue Jackets were skating and scored two straight goals giving them a one goal lead going into the third. Montreal was only down a goal and could have made the game interesting but they didn’t have enough jump to start the third and gave up two early goals burying them and their chances at a comeback.

For a complete game recap: Habs Lose Grip on Playoff Spot

Players to watch

Carey Price
Price has been stellar since November and the primary reason why the Canadiens are in the playoff conversation at all. The Canadiens must do a much better job limiting odd man rushes that were rampant in the Columbus game.
Jordan Weal
Weal has been bumped up to the third line and will center Jonathan Drouin and Joel Armia. Weal had a tough game against the Blue Jackets but generally has played well since joining Montreal. He has shown flashes of offense and is strong defensively.
Brendan Gallagher
With four games Gallagher has said publicly that the team still believes that they can make the playoffs. Gallagher knows what it takes. When on his game, he can be the first one to sacrifice the body to make a play.

Keys to Victory

Play their game
Habs have to focus in playing their game. They excell at attacking in transition, catching teams out of position and not getting in a foot race.
Limit turnovers
The Canadiens were giveaway machines against the Blue Jackets which will have to stop. The Jets are a strong team that have the puck and the Habs can’t afford to give it away.
Use speed
The Habs may be missing their fastest player but they are still one of the fastest teams in the league. They have to use their speed from the start, and use it in the middle of the ice, entering the offensive zone with speed forcing the defense to back up giving the Habs space to make something happen.

Statistical Matchup by All Habs staff
Bell MTS Place, Winnipeg, MB \| March 30, 7:00 PM ET \| TV: SNE, SNW, SN360, CITY, TVAS
	2018-19 statistics
JETS	2018-19 statistics	CANADIENS
94 (9th)	Points (rank)	90 (15th)
45-28-4	Record	41-29-8
25-11-4	Home/Away	18-17-4
5-5-0	Last 10	5-4-1
3.35	GF/G	2.99
2.95	GA/G	2.90
25.5	PP%	12.3
79.1	PK%	80.8
48.61	CF%	54.04

Pre-game quote
Carey Price “We’ve overcome obstacles and odds all season long, so we’ve always been able to respond well. We have a lot of character in this room. We’ve always responded well to a challenge.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Ehlers – Scheifele – Wheeler Connor – Hayes – Laine Tanev – Lowry – Little Hendricks – Copp – Perreault	Tatar – Danault – Gallagher Lehkonen – Domi – Shaw Drouin – Weal – Armia Deslauriers – Thompson – Peca
Defensemen
Beaulieu – Trouba Kulikov – Myers Chiarot – Niku	Mete – Weber Kulak – Petry Benn – Folin
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Injured: Byfuglien, Morrow, Morrisey, Brossoit	Scratched: Reilly, Hudon, Kotkaniemi, Weise, Lindgren, Byron (upper-body) Injured: none
Goalies
Connor Hellebuyck	Carey Price

Record: 32-22-2 GAA: – 2.93 Sv%: – .912 SO: 2 Alternate: Eric Comrie	Record: 33-23-6 GAA: – 2.53 Sv%: – .917 SO: 4 Alternate: Antti Niemi

What to Expect by Sam Gerber

The Canadiens do not control their own fate but they still need to get their part of the job done. The Jets have clinched a playoff spot but they still have plenty for which to play. They want home ice in the playoffs and need these points. After a disastrous effort in the game of the year the Habs have to answer back and finish the season strong. Claude Julien has decided to give Jesperi Kotkaniemi the night off after a rough game against the Blue Jackets. Jordan Weal is more experienced and stronger on the road while Kotkaniemi has only two points in his last eleven games. One move doesn’t change the Habs game plan, and if the Habs are ready from the start and compete to the very end they will have the response that they deserve.

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

2018-19 statistics