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Guhle Returns Home | PREVIEW: MTL @ EDM

Sam Gerber

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

A hot start by the Habs in the opening seconds to give the Habs an early lead. It was Juraj Slafkovsky supporting a strong play by Sean Monahan and putting in the easy  goal. That line was the best for the Habs all night with a combination of size, speed, skill and physicality. The Habs allowed the Flames to stick around who scored in the final seconds of the second period. In the final frame the Habs made the most of a power-play as Cole Caufield made no mistake on a cross seam pass from Nick Suzuki. Jake Allen put the team on his back as he stopped 45 of 46 shots including 21 in the third period.

Last game: MTL 2  CGY 1  F

For a complete game recap: A Triumphant Return | RECAP: MTL @ CGY

Players to Watch

  • Kaiden Guhle
    It’s homecoming night for Kaiden Guhle who will play his first game in his hometown and will have plenty of family and friends in attendance. Guhle has gone above and beyond his expectations this season and the rookie will surely want to put on a show in front of his hometown fans.
  • Nick Suzuki
    While the Habs will have their work cut out for them tonight against Connor McDavid, a lot of responsibility will be on the shoulders of Nick Suzuki, who has shown time and time again he is up to the task.
  • Juraj Slafkovsky
    Slafkovsky picked up an easy goal last game which should help his confidence. Perhaps he can take lessons on work ethic from Sean Monahan. Slafkovsky needs to significantly up his effort level no matter where he plays in the lineup.

Keys to Victory

  • Manage McDavid
    The league’s best player is almost averaging two points a game and the Habs have to do everything they can to contain him. This will be a huge test for the Habs young defence and will be interesting to see how they handle it.
  • Win special teams
    Both teams struggle with scoring in the bottom six. Montreal will need to take advantage and prove depth is key to winning games.
  • Limit turnovers
    Puck responsibility will be key again for the Habs as the Oilers have two of the best goal scorers in the league and the Habs would be wise to limit turnovers.
Statistical Matchup for Game 24
Rogers Place, Edmonton, AB | December 3, 7:00 PM ET | TV: CBC, SN360, TVAS, ESPN+

2022-23  statistics
OILERS CANADIENS
26 (17th) Points (rank) 25 (19th)
13-11-0 Record 12-10-1
L1 Streak W1
5-5-0 Last 10 6-4-0
3.42 (11th) GF/G (rank) 2.78 (26th)
3.63 (26th) GA/G (rank) 3.39 (22nd)
27.6 (6th) PP% (rank) 15.7 (29th)
71.6 (27th) PK% (rank) 82.3 (6th)
50.2  Faceoff % 51.5
Pre-game Quotes
Marty St. Louis 
  • “[Leon Draisaitl and McDavid] are great players. They play a lot of minutes and I think it will take a collective effort to counter these guys. […] They have too much speed, talent and intelligence, it is necessary to face them collectively.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Draisaitl – McDavid – Hyman
Janmark – Nugent-Hopkins – Puljujarvi
Kostin – Shore – Ryan
Holloway – Malone – Benson		 Caufield – Suzuki – Dach
Slafkovsky – Monahan – Anderson
Dadonov – Dvorak –  Armia
Pezzetta – Evans – Pitlick
Defensemen
Nurse – Ceci
Broberg – Bouchard
Kulak – Barrie		 Matheson – Savard
Edmundson – Guhle
Xhekaj – Kovacevic
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Murray, Hamblin
Injured: Foegele, Kane, Yamamoto, McLeod		 Scratched: Wideman, Harris
Injured: Byron (hip), Price (knee), Drouin (upper-body), Hoffman (lower-body), Gallagher (lower-body)
Goalies
Stuart Skinner Jake Allen
Record: 6-5-0
GAA: 2.91
Sv%: .914
SO: 0
Alternate: Jack Campbell		 Record: 7-8-0
GAA: 3.40
Sv%: .898
SO: 0
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
Don’t be surprised if tonight’s game is a high scoring affair as both teams are at the bottom of the league for goals against and both teams have players that can score at will. The Habs will not want to get into a track meet against the Oilers as that would be a recipe for disaster but a strong checking game and finishing chances is exactly what the Habs will want to do to have a chance at coming away with a win.

Bottom Line

If the Habs are able to shut down both McDavid and Draisaitl that should be more than enough for the Habs to have a good chance at winning.
 Video Highlights

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