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GAME PREVIEW | Canadiens – Lightning: Kotkaniemi Returns to Habs Lineup

Sam Gerber

GAME DAY | Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning: 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  WPG 2  F   After giving up the first goal once again, the Habs got it back and then some. Tomas Tatar and Phillip Danault both scored a pair of goals, while Max Domi and Artturi Lehkonen each scored one in the lopsided win. Carey Price stopped 27  of 29 shots including 15 in a busy first period.

For a complete game recap: Habs Head to Break With Win

Players to watch

  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi
    Finally healthy, Kotkaniemi will make his return and it couldn’t have come at a better time as Joel Armia went down last game while playing some of the best hockey of his career. Hopefully Kotkaniemi can jump right in prove why he was drafted third overall.
  • Jeff Petry
    Petry has been strong in the last two games after having a string of bad games. This is the game the Habs need Petry to be on top of his game playing against a possible playoff matchup.
  • Nick Suzuki
    The injury to Armia is unfortunate but it gives Suzuki a big chance to step up. He’s been bumped to the second line for tonight’s game. With points in his last three games Suzuki is starting to climb the rookie scoring race.

Keys to Victory

  • Protect the puck
    The Habs owned the puck last game and it showed, if they can repeat that kind of effort against one of the most offensive teams in the league, they’ll be in a strong position to win.
  • Win special teams
    The Habs power-play is ninth in the league and will need to do it’s job but the 27th ranked penalty-kill needs to step up and shut down the NHL’s top ranked power-play.
  • Score first
    The Habs need to come out strong out of the Christmas break and getting a lead early will frustrate the Lightning who know they should be higher in the standings.
Statistical Matchup by All Habs
Amalie Arena, Tampa, FL | December 28, 7:00 PM ET | TV: SN360, CITY, SNE, TVAS, SUN

2019-20 statistics
LIGHTNING CANADIENS
40 (23rd) Points (rank) 42 (18th)
18-13-4 Record 18-13-6
10-7-2 Home/Away 10-5-3
5-4-1 Last 10 7-3-0
3.51 GF/G 3.22
3.17 GA/G 3.13
29.6 PP% 22.6
80.5 PK% 75.2
52.61  CF% 54.21
Pre-game quotes
Brendan Gallagher
  • “You have to learn from the tough times. Last year wasn’t easy missing the playoffs by a couple of points and looking back on games that we could’ve gotten points in and didn’t. So this year from day one it’s been a desperation level and a sense of urgency trying to pick up points every night.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders by All Habs
Forwards
Palat – Point – Kucherov
Killhorn – Cirelli – Stamkos
Maroon – Paquette – Gourde
Joseph – Stephens – Johnson		 Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Lehkonen – Domi – Suzuki
Cousins – Kotkaniemi – Weal
Poehling – Thompson – Barber
Defensemen
Hedman – Rutta
McDonagh – Cernak
Sergachev – Shattenkirk		 Chiarot – Weber
Kulak – Petry
Mete – Fleury
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Schenn, Verhaeghe
Injured: Coburn
 Scratched: Vejdemo, Folin, Reilly
Injured: Drouin, Byron, Peca, Armia
Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy Carey Price
Record: 15-9-2
GAA: – 2.81
Sv%: – .908
SO: 0
Alternate: Curtis McElhinney		 Record: 16-11-3
GAA: – 2.86
Sv%: – .906
SO: 1
Alternate: Charlie Lindgren
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
A great Western road trip where the Habs went 3-1 needs to continue in Florida. Every games is big the season is just about at the halfway point, but divisional games are much more important. With Tampa having a slow start to the season the Habs can put some distance between them in the standings with a statement win. 
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