GAME DAY | Montreal Canadiens vs New York Rangers: 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 COL 3 F A slow start against one of the best teams in the league is asking for trouble. Rookie goalie Cayden Primeau was understandably nervous and would have wanted both first period goals back. The Habs battled back but it wasn’t enough.

For a complete game recap: Habs Lose, Kotkaniemi Hurt

Players to watch

Cale Fleury
Fleury is the one Canadiens player that opposition forwards must keep track of when he is on the ice. Fleury hits with purpose.
Max Domi
With the injury to Kotkaniemi, Max Domi may be getting more ice time and he needs to make the most of it. Domi has disappointed this season and needs to get his game on track.
Artturi Lehkonen
Lehkonen was robbed of the tying goal by an amazing save by the Avs goalie. But it was earlier where his effort on the back-check was why the Habs depend on this player so much.

Keys to Victory

Control gap
The Habs were giving the Avs way to much space to carry the puck into their zone. The Habs have to do a much better job against the Rangers who love to attack with speed.
Maintain possession
It is a completely different game when the Habs have the puck and are playing with purpose. Chasing the play has been hurting the Habs for weeks.
Keep focused
The Habs need to keep playing no matter what happens. A lack of focus on the game and too much talking to the refs about missed calls has been going on for too long.

Statistical Matchup by All Habs
Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY \| December 6, 7:00 PM ET \| TV: TSN2, RDS, MSG
	2019-20 statistics
RANGERS	2019-20 statistics	CANADIENS
31 (18th)	Points (rank)	30 (21st)
14-10-3	Record	12-11-6
8-5-2	Home/Away	5-4-3
6-3-1	Last 10	1-6-3
3.22	GF/G	3.21
3.26	GA/G	3.45
19.4	PP%	19.3
76.4	PK%	75.0
43.26	CF%	54.35

Pre-game quotes
Nick Cousins “It’s nice to get right back at it in New York. And then if we get one [on Friday], then we’ll get going.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders by All Habs
Forwards
Lemieux – Zibanejad – Kakko Panarin – Strome – Kreider Fast – Chytil – Buchnevich Nieves – Howden – Smith	Tatar – Danault – Gallagher Cousins – Domi – Hudon Lehkonen – Suzuki – Armia Peca – Thompson – Weal
Defensemen
Skjei – Trouba Lindgren – Fox Hajek – Deangelo	Chiarot – Weber Kulak – Petry Leskinen – Fleury
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Haley Injured: Hajek	Scratched: Reilly, Folin Injured: Drouin, Byron, Mete, Kotkaniemi
Goalies
Alexandar Georgiev	Carey Price

Record: 7-6-2 GAA: – 3.21 Sv%: – .910 SO: 0 Alternate: Henrik Lundqvist	Record: 11-9-3 GAA: – 3.13 Sv%: – .899 SO: 1 Alternate: Cayden Primeau

What to Expect by Sam Gerber

The Canadiens are going to be tested once again, now with three forwards out due to injury. Nick Cousins has been given the biggest opportunity and to his credit has brought some energy but it simply isn’t enough. The Habs need to depend on their top players even if that means some of the Habs role players get less ice time.

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GAME DAY | Montreal Canadiens vs New York Rangers: Preview, TV, Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Habs Tickets

2019-20 statistics