GAME PREVIEW | Lightning – Canadiens: Habs Face a Tough Test

By
Sam Gerber
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GAME DAY | Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning: Preview, TV,  Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Habs Tickets

Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game : MTL 6  STL 3  F   The Habs answered the bell against the defending Stanley Cup Champions and won their first game in regulation. The Habs put up 37 shots and found the back of the net six times. The biggest change was the Habs played with the lead for most of the game and didn’t look back.

For a complete game recap: Habs Power Past Blues

Players to watch

  • Artturi Lehkonen
    Lehkonen is off to an excellent start to the season with four points in five games. He is regularly creating scoring chances for his linemates but picked up his first goal, which was the game-winner against the Blues. Lehkonen has been one of the most complete Habs players to start the season. 
  • Shea Weber
    Weber is averaging 24 minutes a night and has two assists, 17 shots and 11 hits in five games. Weber’s shot from the point on the power-play will be more effective when the players down low begin to do a better job.
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi
    Kotkaniemi has played very well to open the season. We would like to see him get time on the first wave of the power-play.

Keys to Victory

  • Be disciplined
    The Habs know they can’t take penalties against the Lightning. With the Montreal penalty-kill off to a bad start and the Lightning power-play being one of the most feared in the league, one penalty could be the difference in the game.
  • Generate quality shots
    The Canadiens have to be more selective in their shots generating quality chances and getting more traffic to the net.
  • Rise to the occasion
    With a regulation win, the Canadiens have a chance to go up three points on the Lightning. After beating the Cup champs convincingly, the Habs have to continue the momentum by taking down the Bolts.
Statistical Matchup by All Habs
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | October 15, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, NBCSN

2019-20 statistics
LIGHTNING CANADIENS
5 (19th) Points (rank) 6 (15th)
2-2-1 Record 2-1-2
1-2-1 Away/Home 1-1-0
2-2-1 Last 10 2-1-2
4.00 GF/G 4.00
3.40 GA/G 4.00
26.7 PP% 25.0
72.2 PK% 64.7
42.58  CF%  50.88
Pre-game quotes
Claude Julien

  • “They’re a talented group that can do a lot of damage if we aren’t ready to play the right way. That’ll be a hungry team on the other side. They’ve got a lot of pride. They haven’t had the start to the season they were hoping for, so we have to be ready to play a good game and execute.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders by All Habs staff
Forwards
Stamkos – Point – Kucherov
Palat – Cirelli – Killhorn
Joseph – Johnson – Gourde
Maroon – Verhaeghe – Witkowski		 Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Lehkonen – Domi – Weal
Drouin – Kotkaniemi – Armia
Byron – Thompson – Suzuki
Defensemen
Hedman – Cernak
McDonagh – Shattenkirk
Coburn – Sergachev		 Mete – Weber
Kulak – Petry
Chiarot – Folin
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Rutta
Injured: Paquette
 Scratched: Reilly, Fleury
Injured: Cousins
Goalies
Andrei Vasilevskiy Carey Price
Record: 3-2-1
GAA: – 3.04
Sv%: – .903
SO: 0
Alternate: Curtis McElhinney		 Record: 2-1-1
GAA: – 3.38
Sv%: – .901
SO: 0
Alternate: Keith Kinkaid
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
The Lightning have had a odd start to the season, posting two disappointing loses after two convincing wins. They have yet to hit their groove. The Habs have to come out strong and early, getting to the Lightning right from the get go will frustrate them. The Habs need to win this game to build their confidence.
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