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GAME PREVIEW | Jets – Canadiens: Kovalchuk to Make Habs Debut

Sam Gerber

GAME DAY | Montreal Canadiens vs Winnipeg Jets: 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  PIT 3  F/OT   The Habs got a point thanks to Carey Price and Artturi Lehkonen. Lehkonen scored twice and Price was on his own most of the night. The Habs had 28 shots but very few scoring chances. The Habs made mistakes including Nick Suzuki’s bad change in overtime. The game ended in controversy with a disputed Pittsburgh goal. 

For a complete game recap: Mental Mistakes Cost Habs

Players to watch

  • Ilya Kovalchuk
    With a number of injuries, Marc Bergevin has given Kovalchuk a shot. He hasn’t played since early November. He’s definitely lost a step and his shot isn’t what it was. It’s a low-risk, low-reward move. Maybe Kovalchuk can score a few goals to make up for the production lost from injuries.
  • Nick Suzuki
    Suzuki made a mistake last game that led to the game winner. It’s something seen time and time again. Mistakes happen but the Habs need to learn from his mistake.
  • Shea Weber
    Weber took two penalties last game. Weber knows he is more important on the ice  but he may be sending a message to his team that enough is enough and it’s time to fight back.

Keys to Victory

  • Win special teams
    The Habs special teams have been lacking lately and is big reason why they have lost five in a row.
  • Get physical
    The Jets are a big physical team that don’t like to be pushed around. The Habs have to be ready and counter the Jets physicality with some of their own and some speed.
  • Make better decisions
    Bad decision-making cost the Habs last game. The Habs have to do a much better job making decisions with and without the puck.
Statistical Matchup by All Habs
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | January 6, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, TSN3, RDS

2019-20 statistics
JETS CANADIENS
48 (18th) Points (rank) 43 (24th)
22-16-4 Record 18-17-7
12-7-2 Away/Home 8-9-4
3-5-2 Last 10 3-6-1
3.05 GF/G 3.14
3.05 GA/G 3.21
18.1 PP% 22.1
73.5 PK% 76.8
48.10  CF% 53.84
Pre-game quotes
Ilya Kovalchuk
  • “I’m pumped. I’m very excited. You know the way the fans, the city has responded, it’s crazy. So I have a lot of things to prove. And I’m not going to do anything special, but I just want to try to help the team win.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders by All Habs
Forwards
Connor – Scheifele – Laine
Ehlers – Wheeler – Roslovic
Copp – Lowry – Perreault
Bourque – Shore – Appleton 		 Tatar – Danault – Kovalchuk
Lehkonen – Domi – Suzuki
Poehling – Kotkaniemi – Cousins
Weal – Thompson – Weise
Defensemen
Morrisey – Poolman
Sbisa – Pionk
 Bitetto, Niku		 Chiarot – Weber
Scandella – Petry
Mete – Fleury
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Shaw, Harkins, Dahlstrom
Injured: Byfuglien (suspended), Little,  Kulikov, Beaulieu
 Scratched: Kulak, Vejdemo
Injured: Drouin, Byron, Peca, Gallagher, Armia
Goalies
Connor Hellebuyck Carey Price
Record: 18-12-4
GAA: – 2.71
Sv%: – .919
SO: 3
Alternate: Laurent Brossoit		 Record: 16-14-4
GAA: – 3.00
Sv%: – .902
SO: 1
Alternate: Charlie Lindgren
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
The Habs are now six points out of the final wild card position and the trade deadline is less than two months away. The Habs can’t afford to keep losing if they want a playoff spot. The Jets sit one point away from the playoffs and will be ready to play right from the start. 
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