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GAME PREVIEW | Sabres – Canadiens: Habs Looking for Third Straight Win

Sam Gerber

GAME DAY | Buffalo Sabres – 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 4  NYI 0    The Canadiens got the job done and had a convincing win against the Islanders. It was a checking battle throughout the first until the Habs took advantage of a power-play. Joel Armia scored his first power-play point to take the Habs up by one with seconds left in the first period. Montreal took over in the second scoring three straight goals by Shea Weber, Jonathan Drouin and Jordan Weal. Carey Price controlled the entire game, making top tier saves and earning another shutout. 

For a complete game recap: Price, Armia, Weal Star in Impressive Win for Habs

Players to watch

  • Andrew Shaw
    Shaw has been a man on a machine the last few games. He has been willing to throw the body. His linemates, Artturi Lehkonen and Max Domi, are also playing with urgency with the trio making an impact on a nightly basis.
  • Shea Weber
    Weber has been a different player of late, blasting goals on a nightly basis and being a defensive beast. 
  • Jonathan Drouin
    Drouin got the monkey off his back scoring a tic-tac-toe goal, his first since early February. A lot more of that will be needed down the stretch from Drouin.

Keys to Victory

  • Wash, rinse and repeat
    In other words, the Canadiens need to play a carbon copy of their game against teh Islanders.
  • Get physical
    The Canadiens to a man were ready to meet the physical challenge head on against the Islanders. They will have to do the same thing against the Sabres.
  • Win special teams
    Like it or not, special teams are a factor to winning games. Montreal will look to create some special teams momentum after a good outing on Thursday night.
Statistical Matchup by All Habs staff
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | March 23, 7:00 PM ET | TV: SNE, TVAS, CITY, MSG-B

2018-19 statistics
SABRES CANADIENS
71 (25th) Points (rank) 85 (14th)
31-33-9 Record 39-28-7
11-20-5 Away/Home 21-12-4
2-7-1 Last 10 5-5-0
2.70 GF/G 2.93
3.21 GA/G 2.88
18.3 PP% 12.3
81.8 PK% 80.6
49.36  CF%  54.24
Pre-game quote
Tomas Tatar
  • “We’ve had some problems with them before. We just have to start from the first minute and we have to play the same as the last two games.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders
Forwards
Sheary – Eichel – Nylander
Skinner – Rodrigues – Pominville
Sobotka – Mittelstadt – Reinhart 
Girgensons – Larsson – Okposo		 Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Lehkonen – Domi – Shaw
Drouin – Kotkaniemi – Armia
Byron – Thompson – Weal
Defensemen
 Bogosian – Ristolainen
Dahlin – Montour
Scandella – Nelson		 Mete – Weber
Kulak – Petry
   Benn – Folin
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Thompson, Wilson
Injured: McCabe, Hunwick
 Scratched: Reilly, Hudon, Deslauriers, Peca, Weise, Lindgren
Injured: none
Goalies
Carter Hutton Carey Price
Record: 17-21-5
GAA: – 2.88
Sv%: – .911
SO: 0
Alternate: Linus Ullmark		 Record: 31-22-5
GAA: – 2.50
Sv%: – .917
SO: 4
Alternate: Antti Niemi
 What to Expect by Sam Gerber
The Habs are on a roll and they can’t look back now. With points hard to come by in the final games the Montreal must keep this winning steak going as long as they can. The Sabres have had a rough stretch and have gone 2-7-1 in their last ten. They are a young team that is still figuring out their playing style but with plenty of talent that can take over a game if their opponent is not ready. Carey Price has only allowed seven goals in his last five games. Price has single-handedly been the difference-maker for the Canadiens.
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