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Habs In the Sun | 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 tough back to back as the Habs didn’t seem to have their legs, but yet they showed no quit. It was a last minute tying goal from Rem Pitlick that forced extra time.  Multiple posts were hit in overtime but nothing crossed the goal line. It took several shooters to finish the game with the Habs on the losing end but the team went down swinging.

Last game: MTL 2  NJD 3  F/SO

For a complete game recap: ‘Good First Impression’ | RECAP: MTL @ NJD

Players to Watch

  • Joel Armia
    Armia has shown flashes of talent his whole career but continues to leave fans wanting more. While it may be a difficult contract to move, teams expressed interest in Armia at the deadline and it would be beneficial for the Habs to showcase Armia the remainder of the season.
  • Justin Barron
    Barron played his first game for the Habs and impressed. There were some early nerves that settled midway through the game. Barron showed a willingness to pinch and the ability to stick to players and not let them get by. It was a promising start for the young defender who will be tested heavily against a stronger Panthers team.
  • Nick Suzuki
    Suzuki is the Habs most important player right now and he took one of the biggest hits of his career last game. He sacrificed his body to make a play and it wasn’t pleasant to watch.

Keys to Victory

  • Limit shots on goal
    The Habs were heavily outshot by the Panthers last week and will need to do a much better job blocking shots and getting sticks in lanes while also finding ways to test the Panthers netminder.
  • Use physicality
    The Habs got pushed around quite a bit last game and while they did dish out some hits of their own they can’t afford to be punished. Certain players have to step up and make an impact.
  • Win special teams
    The Habs power-play struggled heavily specifically on zone entries. It is something for which the coaching staff needs to find an answer.
Statistical Matchup for Game 67
FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, FL | March 29, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, BSFL

2021-22  statistics
PANTHERS CANADIENS
94 (3rd) Points (rank) 47 (30th)
44-15-6 Record 18-37-11
L1 Streak OT1
7-2-1 Last 10 3-4-4
4.02 (1st) GF/G (rank) 2.53 (32nd)
2.88 (13th) GA/G (rank) 3.71 (31st)
23.4 (10th) PP% (rank) 13.9 (30th)
79.6 (16th) PK%  (rank) 74.4 (28th)
47.6  Faceoff % 48.5
Pre-game Quotes
Kent Hughes on Jordan Harris
  • “Jordan is still a very mature guy and he’s preparing for the things that are coming. He will be ready when the coaches decide.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Verhaeghe – Barkov – Giroux
Huberdeau – Bennett – Duclair
Marchment – Luostarinen – Reinhart
Lomberg – Acciari – Hornqvist		 Caufield – Suzuki – Anderson
R. Pitlick – Evans – Hoffman
Byron  – Dvorak – Armia
Perreault – Dauphin – Ylonen
Defensemen
Chiarot – Weegar
Forsling – Gudas
Hagg – Montour		 Romanov – Savard
Barron – Edmundson
Schueneman – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Thornton, Carlsson, Lindbohm, Mamin, Mamin
Injured: Nutivaara, Lundell, Ekblad, Johansson		 Scratched: Lagesson
Injured: Pezzetta (upper-body), T. Pitlick (upper-body), Petry (lower-body), Drouin (upper-body), Gallagher (lower-body), Poehling (upper-body), Clague (upper-body), Price (knee), Weber (multiple injuries)
Goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky Jake Allen
Record: 31-6-3
GAA: 2.57
Sv%: .916
SO: 2
Alternate: Spencer Knight		 Record: 7-17-4
GAA: 3.09
Sv%: .908
SO: 2
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
The Panthers lost badly to the Leafs in their last game and will want to get right back in the win column to show they are the beasts in the East. The Habs had a tough start last game and will want to do a much better job this time around. There is a lot  management can learn in the last 16 games and playing one of the best teams in the league is one of the best ways to evaluate the lineup.

Bottom Line

The Habs are no longer last in the league. Many fans are focused on getting the first overall pick but often forget that the Habs will be getting a top-5 pick and the potential to draft a great player who can help them for years to come.
 Video Highlights

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