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GAME PREVIEW | Canadiens – Panthers: Drouin to Play 300th Game

Sam Gerber

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

Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game : MTL 0  TBL 3    The Habs went toe-to-toe with the best team in the league for two periods but the wheels came off in the third. Tampa scored a power-play goal when Phillip Danault was in the box for hooking. Moments later Jonathan Drouin thought he was still playing for Tampa and set them in all alone. It was two quick goals that derailed the Habs. The Canadiens managed only three of eight points while playing four of the top teams in the league.

For a complete game recap: Habs Fall Flat in Tampa

Players to watch

  • Brendan Gallagher
    The Habs need to play with spirit. Gallagher has been very inconsistent of late and needs to be a leader for the Canadiens that can rub off on his teammates.
  • Antti Niemi
    Niemi has struggled greatly this season but gets the 25th placed team in the league tonight after Carey Price has carried the load against the league’s best.    
  • Jonathan Drouin
    Drouin has had fewer than a handful of complete games this season. His irresponsible passes in the neutral zone continue to be picked off and cost the team. It’s very rare that Drouin receives criticism but even Claude Julien is becoming frustrated with his poor play.

Keys to Victory

  • Get pucks deep
    The Canadiens like to make line changes as soon as the pucks leaves their end to get on the forecheck. The risk is that if the puck isn’t sent deep, Montreal will get caught.
  • Maintain composure
    The Habs lost their composure against the Lightning which changed the game. One or two goals doesn’t win a game.
  • Stay out of the box
    The dumb penalties are hurting the team especially from top players like Max Domi and Phillip Danault. The Panthers have a great power-play and will make the Habs pay if they continue to be undisciplined. 
Statistical Matchup by All Habs staff
BB&T Center, Sunrise, FL | February 17, 7:00 PM ET | TV: SN, RDS, FS-F

2018-19 statistics
PANTHERS CANADIENS
56 (25th) Points (rank) 69 (11th)
24-24-8 Record 31-20-7
13-10-5 Home/Away 14-10-3
6-4-0 Last 10 5-3-2
3.00 GF/G 2.95
3.39 GA/G 2.90
25.8 PP% 13.1
81.5 PK% 79.6
49.95  CF%  53.93
 
 
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Huberdeau – Barkov – Vatrano
Hoffman – Trocheck – Dadonov
Borgstrom – Brassard – Malgin
Hawryluk – Sheahan – Brouwer		 Drouin – Danault – Gallagher
Tatar – Domi – Shaw
Lehkonen – Kotkaniemi – Armia
Hudon – Thompson – Deslauriers
Defensemen
 Matheson – Ekblad
Yandle – Pysyk
 McCoshen – Brown		 Mete – Weber
Reilly – Petry
   Kulak – Benn
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Kiselvich, McGinn, Haley, Luongo
Injured: MacKenzie, Weegar, Sceviour
 Scratched: Folin, Peca, Deslauriers
Injured: Byron
Goalies
James Reimer Antti Niemi
Record: 11-10-5
GAA: – 3.05
Sv%: – .901
SO: 0
Alternate: Samuel Montembault		 Record: 8-5-2
GAA: – 3.61
Sv%: – .893
SO: 0
Alternate: Carey Price
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
The Habs go into Florida playing a well-rested team that has been playing some good hockey. The Canadiens road trip hasn’t gone well but ending with a big win is much needed. The Habs have to empty the tank and not let up against the Panthers. At this point Montreal needs every point as they have slipped back into a wild card spot. Another bad week and the Habs could see themselves on the outside looking in which won’t sit well at the trade deadline where Bergevin could continue to mix things up if he isn’t happy. 
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