GAME PREVIEW | Islanders – Canadiens: Habs Fighting for a Spot

By
Sam Gerber
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GAME DAY | New York Islanders – Montreal Canadiens: Preview, TV,  Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Habs Tickets

Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game : MTL 3  PHI 1    This was a must win game for the Canadiens and their playoff chances. Habs leaders did more than answer the bell. The fore-check of Montreal’s top line caused a turnover that Brendan Gallagher pounced on putting the Habs up late in the first. Then it was Shea Weber blasted an off balanced hot past everyone to put the Habs up by two. The Flyers got one back mid-way through the third on the power-play but it was Carey Price, the Habs best player who shut the door only allowing the one. 

For a complete game recap: Habs Control Giroux, Flyers

Players to watch

  • Artturi Lehkonen
    Lehkonen has been dynamic since being promoted to the second line. Lehkonen has been forechecking hard, causing opposition turnovers and leading the Habs in creating high danger scoring chances.
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi
    Kotkaniemi has been in Claude Julien’s doghouse with the head coach severely limiting the rookie’s icetime. The unreasonable leash needs to be loosened to get Kotkaniemi back on track.  
  • Jeff Petry
    The points haven’t been there lately for Petry but he has been contributing in other ways. Petry has been more physical, knows when to join the rush and has been making up for errors from defensive partner Brett Kulak. 

Keys to Victory

  • Eliminate turnovers
    The Canadiens last week due to bad turnovers. Montreal can’t put themselves in that  position again. They will have to get back to making smart plays. 
  • Create traffic
    The Habs executed traffic perfectly on Shea Weber’s game winner against Philadelphia. The Canadiens will have to repeat the recipe against the Isles tonight. 
  • Win special teams
    It’s now or never for the Habs power-play. It’s time for poor decision-makers like Jonathan Drouin and Max Domi to take a back seat. Montreal needs offense from the man advantage to help secure a playoff spot.
Statistical Matchup by All Habs staff
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | March 21, 7:30 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, MSG+

2018-19 statistics
ISLANDERS CANADIENS
91 (7th) Points (rank) 83 (15th)
42-24-7 Record 38-28-7
20-12-3 Away/Home 20-12-4
5-5-0 Last 10 5-5-0
2.77 GF/G 2.92
2.37 GA/G 2.92
15.1 PP% 11.9
81.1 PK% 80.3
47.24  CF%  54.24
Pre-game quote
Andrew Shaw

  • “We were all disappointed with how we played [a week ago against the Islanders]. They outcompeted us, outworked us, outchanced us, and we’ll have a better game right from the puck-drop.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Lee – Barzal – Eberle
Bailey – Nelson – Ladd
Beauvillier – Kuhnhackl – Komarov
Martin – Cizikas – Clutterbuck		 Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Lehkonen – Domi – Shaw
Drouin – Kotkaniemi – Armia
Byron – Thompson – Weal
Defensemen
 Leddy – Mayfield
Pelech – Pulock
Hickey – Toews		 Mete – Weber
Kulak – Petry
   Benn – Folin
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Dal Colle, Johnston, Fritz, Boychuk, Sbisa, Seidenberg
Injured: Filppula
 Scratched: Reilly, Hudon, Deslauriers, Peca, Weise, Lindgren
Injured: none
Goalies
Thomas Greiss Carey Price
Record: 22-12-2
GAA: – 2.21
Sv%: – .928
SO: 5
Alternate: Robin Lehner		 Record: 29-21-5
GAA: – 2.58
Sv%: – .915
SO: 3
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
The Canadiens are fighting with Hurricanes and the Blue Jackets for that final wild card spot. Expect a lot of scoreboard watching tonight. The Isles, on the other hand, are comfortably in a playoff spot. For Montreal, it’s important to end the season on a positive note. The Islanders are trying to catch the Capitals to win the Metro division. 
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Tickets
   
   
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