Site icon Habs Hockey Report

Golden Knights @ Canadiens: Home Ice Advantage | HABS GAME 3 PREVIEW

Sam Gerber

GAME DAY PREVIEW | Montreal Canadiens vs Vegas Golden Knights: Preview, TV, Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Habs Tickets, NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Series

Game Preview

A Look Back

The Canadiens got off to a great start as the fourth line opened the scoring. Ten minutes later, Tyler Toffoli gave the Habs a two goal lead. The Habs did a good job shutting down the Knights through the middle of the ice but two blown face-off plays allowed the Knights back in the game. The Habs hung on due to the play of Carey Price who once again gave the Habs a chance to win.

Last game: MTL 3  VGK 2 | Series tied 1-1

For a complete game recap: Canadiens @ Golden Knights: Price, Weber Lead the Way | HABS GAME 2 RECAP

Players to Watch

  • Nick Suzuki
    Suzuki almost had the goal of playoffs but it wasn’t meant to be. Shortly after he was victimized after a bad icing and showed his inexperience at the faceoff dot. It was the third goal for the opposition off a lost draw in the playoffs by Suzuki.
  • Corey Perry
    Perry was in the middle of everything and was in Vegas’ heads all night. Perry knows this is exactly what it takes to win and he has been leading by example.
  • Jeff Petry
    An injured and scary-looking Petry made a big impact for the Habs. Nothing is stopping Petry from doing anything he can to win this series.

Keys to Victory

  • Cover the points
    The two goals scored by the Knights were off blown faceoff coverage. They got some lucky bounces but the Habs have to have a guy covering Alex Pietrangelo every defensive faceoff.
  • Start strong
    Getting a lead is key for the Habs as the confidence they play with is huge when they get that first goal.
  • Maintain your style
    Vegas will be making some adjustments after Carey Price was able to shut them down but it’s important the Habs continue to play their game and not get sucked into Vegas’ style.
Statistical Matchup for Round 3, Game 3
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | June 18, 8:00 PM ET | TV: CBC, SN, TVAS, USA

2020-21 Playoff statistics
GOLDEN KNIGHTS CANADIENS
— Points (rank) —
9-6 Record 9-4
– Last 10 –
11.8 (15th) PP% (rank) 20.0 (8th)
71.0 (12th) PK% (rank) 91.9 (1st)
53.3 Faceoff% 50.3
3.07 GF/G 2.46
2.33 GA/G 2.31
54.66  CF% 48.55
Pre-game Quotes
Artturi Lehkonen
  • “We’ve just got to stick to what we’re doing, play our own style of game, and we know the results are going to come that way. We know that if we’re right there within striking distance, we can make the most of the opportunities that we’re given.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Pacioretty – Tuch – Stone
Marchessault – Karlsson – Smith
Janmark – Roy – Kolesar
Carrier – Nosek – Reaves		 Lehkonen – Danault – Gallagher
Toffoli – Suzuki – Caufield
Byron – Kotkaniemi – Anderson
Perry – Staal – Armia
Defensemen
Martinez – Pietrangelo
McNabb – Theodore
Holden – Whitecloud		 Chiarot – Weber
Edmundson – Petry
Gustafsson – Merrill
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Coghlan, Hague, Brown
Injured: Stephenson		 Scratched: Frolik, Lindgren, Tatar, Ouellet, Kulak, Romanov
Injured: Evans (concussion), Drouin (undisclosed)
COVID protocol: Ducharme
Goalies
Marc-Andre Fleury Carey Price
Record: 9-5
GAA: 1.92
Sv%: .923
SO: 1
Alternate: Robin Lehner		 Record: 9-4
GAA: 2.14
Sv%: .930
SO: 1
Alternate: Jake Allen
 Game Expectations
Thirty-five hundred fans will be at the Bell Centre to cheer on their team. The Habs did a great job taking a sold out Vegas arena out of it. This time the Habs need to give their crowd something to cheer about. This should be the game where the bad blood spills over and should see more than just a few scrums by the net. This is a tight series and both teams don’t want to give an inch.

Bottom Line

Playing fast, smart and determined hockey is what the Habs need to do to go up two to one in the series but drawing a few penalties wouldn’t hurt.
 Video Highlights

Follow @AllHabs on Twitter

Exit mobile version