GAME DAY | Montreal Canadiens vs Minnesota Wild: Preview, TV, Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Habs Tickets

Game Preview by Sam Gerber

Last game : MTL 1 TBL 3 F The Canadiens started well outchancing last year’s winners of the President’s Trophy. The first period ended with Montreal looking lost in their own end and skaters watching the Lightning take turns shooting on Price. With seven seconds left in the period Tampa scored. That goal changed the entire game for the Habs. Mentally they weren’t the same team making mistake after mistake in the second leading to two early goals against. The Habs were down 3-1 to start the third but could not generate many high quality scoring chances. The Habs power-play was unable to score again going 1-for-5.

For a complete game recap: Habs Fail to Sustain Start

Players to watch

Brendan Gallagher
Gallagher may have six points in six games but they came in a pair of games. He knows that he needs to play better. In his last game Gallagher only had two shots on goal with no hits. Gallagher knows he leads by example and if he’s not getting his chances he has to be physical.
Nick Cousins
Byron has had a quiet start, playing mostly fourth line and special teams. He has yet to use his speed like we’ve seen in the past and something he’ll need to start doing to make a difference for the Habs.
Brett Kulak
Kulak has some chemistry with Jeff Petry but, given the state of the Habs defence, is playing in a role beyond his talent. A change is desperately needed as Victor Mete has struggled so far this season and there is no solution in sight for the top pair.

Keys to Victory

Change lines smartly
The Habs have been careless with line changes going back to last year. Poor changes result in odd man rushes and minor penalties. There is no excuse for these careless mistakes and the coaching staff must take responsibility.
Be better in own zone
Montreal’s defensive coverage has been lacking. Given the holes on defence, it will be necessary for forwards to help out. Failure to get the puck out early and disrupt the forecheck has led to long shifts resulting in goals against.
Play smart
The Canadiens need to keep it simple and make smart plays more often. Preventable mistakes are multiplying leading to breakdowns.

Statistical Matchup by All Habs
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC \| October 17, 7:00 PM ET \| TV: TSN2, RDS, FS-N
	2019-20 statistics
WILD	2019-20 statistics	CANADIENS
2 (30th)	Points (rank)	6 (21st)
1-5-0	Record	2-2-2
1-4-0	Away/Home	1-2-0
1-5-0	Last 10	2-2-2
2.33	GF/G	3.50
4.17	GA/G	3.83
15.0	PP%	23.8
77.3	PK%	61.1
50.00	CF%	51.66

Pre-game quotes
Claude Julien “They’re a big team; they play a pretty physical game. They always give us a hard time. They’re well-structured. They’re a team that protects the front of their net well. They also reply well defensively.”
Projected forward lines, defense pairings and goaltenders by All Habs
Forwards
Parise – Koivu – Zucker Mayhew – Staal – Hartman Foligno – Eriksson Ek – Kunin Fiala – Donato – Greenway	Tatar – Danault – Gallagher Lehkonen – Domi – Byron Drouin – Kotkaniemi – Armia Cousins – Thompson – Suzuki
Defensemen
Suter – Spurgeon Brodin – Dumba Seeler – Hunt	Mete – Weber Kulak – Petry Chiarot – Fleury
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Soucy Injured: Rask, Pateryn, Zuccarello	Scratched: Reilly, Folin, Weal Injured:
Goalies
Alex Stalock	Carey Price

Record: 1-0-0 GAA: – 0.71 Sv%: – .973 SO: 1 Alternate: Devan Dubnyk	Record: 2-2-1 GAA: – 3.33 Sv%: – .896 SO: 0 Alternate: Keith Kinkaid

What to Expect by Sam Gerber

Montreal and Minnesota who are two teams that have struggled out of the gate and will play each other twice in the next four days. With tonight’s game, the Habs need to come out strong. The Wild have struggled to score only netting 14 goals in six games while giving up 25. The Habs numbers aren’t much better. The Canadiens will have to be careful as the Wild are a bigger and much more physical team that will start throwing their weight around if the game gets out of reach early.

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GAME DAY | Montreal Canadiens vs Minnesota Wild: Preview, TV, Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Habs Tickets

2019-20 statistics