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Habs in Sunrise | PREVIEW: MTL @ FLA

Sam Gerber

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

It was a high scoring affair that saw six goals in the first period. The Pens got on the board early but the Habs more than answered back with four straight goals of their own. The Pens then tied it up in the second period as it looked the Habs might be trying to let this game slip away. But in the third period Justin Barron sent a long pass to Anthony Richard who made no mistake. While defence was nowhere to be found it was a great offensive display by the Habs.

Last game: MTL 6  PIT 4  F

For a complete game recap: Results Not Process | RECAP: MTL @ PIT

Players to Watch

  • Justin Barron
    Justin Barron continues to make great strides this year and his potential could be even higher than expected. When the Habs traded for Barron, it was Sidney Crosby who mentioned the Habs got one of the best upcoming defenseman in the league. That’s high praise from one of the all-time greatest players in the league.
  • Denis Gurianov
    Gurianov continues to be noticed since being traded to the Habs. It’s a small sample size but Gurianov has four goals in nine games with the Canadiens.
  • Michael Pezzetta
    The former 160th overall pick just played in his 100th NHL game, which is a great accomplishment for the predominantly one-dimensional player. Pezzetta might get lost in the turnover this offseason so fans should very well enjoy him for the rest of the season.

Keys to Victory

  • Start on time
    The Habs have some steep competition the rest of the reason but the Habs need to start being smarter and have good tendencies that will carry over in games and into next season.
  • Next man up
    The Habs depth has been tested all season as they have the most man games lost to injury this season in the NHL. That said, there is still a lot of talent to go around on this team. Every player must be giving it their all to contribute.
  • Win special teams
    The special teams’ play of late has been a big reason the Habs have been able to compete. Habs need to keep this up for the rest of the season as it something to build on.
Statistical Matchup for Game 69
FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, FL | March 16, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, BSFLX

2022-23  statistics
PANTHERS CANADIENS
73 (19th) Points (rank) 60 (27th)
33-27-7 Record 27-35-6
OT1 Streak W1
6-3-1 Last 10 2-6-2
3.39 (9th) GF/G (rank) 2.74 (28th)
3.36 (23rd) GA/G (rank) 3.62 (27th)
22.1 (13th) PP% (rank) 15.9 (31st)
74.3 (27th) PK% (rank) 72.4 (30th)
48.4  Faceoff % 49.0
Pre-game 
Marty St. Louis
  • “I don’t think we’re the type of team who lay down if we have a bad start; we fight. It doesn’t always pan out but I feel like we have fight in us and I respect the guys for that.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Luostarinen – Barkov – Duclair
Verhaeghe – Bennett – Tkachuk
Lomberg – Lundell – Reinhart
Cousins – Staal – White		 Harvey-Pinard – Suzuki – Ylonen
Gurianov – Drouin – Anderson
Pitlick – Tierney – Hoffman
Pezzetta – Belzile – Richard
Defensemen
Forsling – Ekblad
Staal – Montour
Mahura – Gudas		 Matheson – Kovacevic
Edmundson – Barron
Guhle – Savard
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Fitzgerald
Injured: Hornqvist, Knight, Smith		 Scratched: Wideman
Injured: Byron (hip), Price (knee), Monahan (lower-body), Gallagher (lower-body), Evans (lower-body), Slafkovsky (lower-body), Caufield (shoulder), Xhekaj (upper-body), Dach (lower-body), Armia (illness), Dvorak (lower-body), Harris (lower-body)
Goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky Sam Montembeault
Record: 21-17-3
GAA: 2.98
Sv%: .904
SO: 1
Alternate: Alex Lyon		 Record: 13-13-3
GAA: 3.31
Sv%: .905
SO: 1
Alternate: Jake Allen
 Game Expectations
The Habs head to Florida to take on a well-rested Panthers team who hasn’t played for a few days. It’s not going to be an easy game but it is winnable. The Panthers are currently five points back of the second wild card spot but do have some games in hand on the Islanders. If the Habs get a regulation win tonight that will affect the Panthers’ playoff chances.

Bottom Line

While it won’t be easy beating a rested team, the Habs make-shift lineup has been playing a lot of spirited hockey and stranger things have happened.
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