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GAME PREVIEW | Penguins – Canadiens: A Key Battle For Wild Card Spot

Sam Gerber

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

Game Preview by Sam Gerber
Last game : MTL 4  NYR 2    Joel Armia had a coming out party, scoring a hat-trick, the third three goal game by a Habs player in a little over a week. The Canadiens scoring started by Brendan Gallagher who drove hard to the net and deflected a perfect pass by Tomas Tatar over the shoulder of Henrik Lundqvist. The goal woke up Montreal and their energy went straight to their legs. Armia jumped on a lucky bounce to get his first of the game then he drove hard to the net protecting the puck out muscling his defender and scoring short side. It was a power move by Armia who has found his scoring touch of late. He added in an empty netter to get the hat-trick.

For a complete game recap: Armia Scores Natural Hat Trick

Players to watch

  • Jonathan Drouin
    This should be a tailor made game for Drouin. Let’s see if he can be a difference maker on his bobble head night.
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi
    Kotkaniemi has been great all year but this is a game where he is going to be challenged, going up against Malkin and Crosby. It’s no easy task as he will be forced to rise to the challenge.   
  • Shea Weber
    Weber has looked fatigued of late but he has been his normal self the last few games. Obviously he’ll be leaned on tonight as this game is too important to not have him play his best. 

Keys to Victory

  • Be aggressive
    The Habs have to be the more aggressive team. The Penguins defense is injured and the Canadiens have to be relentless on the fore-check and have them play in their end.
  • Play strong in the middle
    The Penguins have two of the greatest centers in the league and the Habs have to not only match them but be able to beat them.
  • Stay out of the box
    The Canadiens special teams haven’t been great all year but if they can turn it around before the playoffs and be the reason they win some tight games it will be the reason they make the playoffs.  
Statistical Matchup by All Habs staff
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | March 2, 7:00 PM ET | TV: SN360, SNE, SNO, SNP, TVAS, ATTSN-PT

2018-19 statistics
PENGUINS CANADIENS
75 (13th) Points (rank) 77 (10th)
33-22-9 Record 35-23-7
16-10-7 Away/Home 19-10-4
5-3-2 Last 10 4-5-1
3.44 GF/G 3.05
3.11 GA/G 2.89
25.0 PP% 12.6
79.8 PK% 80.3
49.28  CF%  53.91
Pre-game quote
Joel Armia
  • “I think we have to be more confident every night to get some success. We can’t think about a loss or a bad play or anything, we have to be positive and comfortable playing in tight situations.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Guentzel – Crosby – Hornqvist
Aston-Reece – Malkin – Kessel
 McCann – Bjustad – Simon
Wilson – Cullen – Blueger		 Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Drouin – Domi – Shaw
Byron – Kotkaniemi – Armia
Lehkonen – Thompson – Weise
Defensemen
 Johnson – Schultz
Pettersson – Gudbranson
Riikola – Trotman		 Mete – Weber
Benn – Petry
   Kulak – Folin
Out of the lineup
Scratched: 
Injured: Maatta, Letang, Dumoulin, Rust, Ruhwedel
 Scratched: Reilly, Hudon, Deslauriers, Peca, Weal
Injured: none
Goalies
Casey DeSmith Carey Price
Record: 14-11-5
GAA: – 2.86
Sv%: – .914
SO: 2
Alternate: Matt Murray		 Record: 27-18-5
GAA: – 2.51
Sv%: – .918
SO: 3
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
Both teams played last night, while the Habs won, the Pens lost in overtime. With a four-point swing tonight both teams need these points and it could end up be a deciding game on which team makes the playoffs. Phillip Danault will be key player for the Habs, he will have the task to shutdown Sydney Crosby while still generating offence of his own. The center match-ups all night will be watched closely, the Habs do have last change which should benefit them greatly. On October 10th, 2007 Carey Price made his debut and got his first win against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tonight Price has the chance to tie Jacques Plante for the most wins by a Habs goalie against the team it all started against. The Habs have to give it their all to make sure that happens for their best player.  
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