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

Game Preview by Sam Gerber

Last game : MTL 1 NJD 2 The Canadiens played poorly and were clearly not focused or ready to play. The Devils fourth line managed to do some damage while the Habs fourth line continues to be ineffective. The Montreal offense barely showed up with perimeter shots most of the game. The Habs have to turn it around quickly, go to the dirty areas, get physical and start crashing the net.

For a complete game recap: Habs Come Out Flat in Newark

Players to watch

Antti Niemi
Niemi will get the start and needs to make it count. With very few quality starts (only four) this season, Niemi is playing to secure a contract for next season (which likely won’t come from the Habs.)
Brendan Gallagher
The Habs need Gallagher to make a difference. If he isn’t involved in a game it affects the rest of the team.
Shea Weber
Weber and Mete struggled on Monday night and need to step up. Without a top-pairing defensive partner, it has been a very heavy burden on Weber. He just may be fatigued. But Claude Julien refused to say if Weber is injured.

Keys to Victory

Rebound
Montreal played terribly last night and need rebound. The Habs must answer for how they have played over the last few games.
Play with energy
The Canadiens have to play with energy. They’ve stopped playing their game for a full sixty minutes.
Stay out of the box
The Habs took six minor penalties on Monday disrupting the flow of the game. They should be more disciplined so they can play five-on-five.

Statistical Matchup by All Habs staff
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI \| February 26, 7:30 PM ET \| TV: TSN2, RDS, FS-D
	2018-19 statistics
RED WINGS	2018-19 statistics	CANADIENS
55 (29th)	Points (rank)	73 (11th)
23-31-9	Record	33-23-7
12-16-5	Home/Away	14-13-3
2-6-2	Last 10	4-5-1
2.78	GF/G	2.95
3.29	GA/G	2.94
16.6	PP%	12.7
77.5	PK%	79.6
48.35	CF%	53.89

Pre-game quote
Max Domi “We’ve got to be better – it is as simple as that. We’ve got to find a way to score goals and defend a little bit better. That’s as a whole, from top to bottom.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Mantha – Larkin – Helm Bertuzzi – Athanasiou – Zadina Glendening – Nielsen – Rasmussen Abdelkader – De La Rose – Witkowski	Drouin – Danault – Gallagher Tatar – Domi – Shaw Byron – Kotkaniemi – Armia Lehkonen – Thompson – Weise
Defensemen
Kronwall – Green Dekeyser – Hronek Bowey – Daley	Mete – Weber Folin – Petry Kulak – Benn
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Ericsson Injured: Svechnikov, Vanek	Scratched: Reilly, Hudon, Deslauriers, Peca, Weal Injured: none
Goalies
Jimmy Howard	Carey Price

Record: 17-16-5 GAA: – 2.88 Sv%: – .910 SO: 0 Alternate: Jonathan Bernier	Record: 25-18-5 GAA: – 2.55 Sv%: – .916 SO: 3 Alternate: Antti Niemi

What to Expect by Sam Gerber

Trade Deadline Day has come and gone and the Habs are the same team as they were. Jordan Weal was the only addition to the roster. The Habs staff believe the next true test for the young team is to play playoff hockey and to rely on Carey Price as they have been doing since the end of November. The Habs have not been themselves lately, going 4-5-1 in their last ten games but with nineteen games remaining and hanging onto a wild card spot the Habs can only blame themselves.

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

2018-19 statistics