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Jets @ Canadiens: Anderson Not Ready | HABS PREVIEW

Rick Stephens

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

Game Preview

A Look Back

The Canadiens let their power-play provide the offence and Carey Price did the rest as the Habs ended their five game losing streak and gave interim head coach Dom  Ducharme his first win as interim head coach.

Last game: MTL 3  OTT  1  F

For a complete game recap: Senators @ Canadiens: Price, Special Teams Earn Win

Players to Watch

  • Josh Anderson
    Anderson rotated in and out of the game day skate but will not play tonight against the Jets. Anderson will miss his third straight game with a lower body injury.
  • Jake Evans
    Under Dom Ducharme, Evans has seen his icetime and his role reduced. While Evans has clearly been superior on the penalty kill, the interim coach has been relying on his veterans. Evans must be patient and play well when given an opportunity.
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi
    Kotkaniemi had under 13 minutes of icetime against Ottawa but was one of the Canadiens best forwards playing a dominating game. He needs to repeat that performance tonight.

Keys to Victory

  • Be vigilant
    The Jets have elite talent and they don’t need much to take advantage of opportunities. The Canadiens must pay attention to details and play to the ends of their shifts.
  • Use the transition game
    With the focus on playing better defence, the Canadiens have been struggling to produce offence 5-on-5. Tonight they should create turnovers and use their speed to capitalize.
  • Win special teams
    The two teams are ranked similarly on the special teams play. The one who wins this battle will likely come out with a ‘W’.
Statistical Matchup
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | March 4, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, TSN3, RDS

2020-21 statistics
JETS CANADIENS
29 (6th) Points (rank) 25 (15th)
14-7-1 Record 10-6-5
5-3-0 Away/Home 4-5-0
7-3-0 Last 10 3-4-3
3.36 GF/G 3.24
2.64 GA/G 2.81
23.5 (14th) PP% (rank) 21.0 (16th)
78.0 (18th) PK% (rank) 76.8 (20th)
48.42  CF% 55.90
Pre-game Quotes
Nick Suzuki
  • “I thought we did a good job against [the Jets] the last couple of games in Winnipeg. They’re pretty dangerous when they have the puck, so it’s just about limiting time and space and trying not to be on the wrong side of the puck in the defensive zone against them. They’re good at making those little plays, so you’ve got to be aware when they’re on the ice.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Stastny – Scheifele – Wheeler
Connor – Dubois – Ehlers
Copp – Lowry – Appleton
Perreault – Thompson – Lewis		 Drouin – Suzuki – Toffoli
Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Lehkonen – Kotkaniemi – Armia
Byron – Evans – Perry
Defensemen
 Morrissey – Poolman
Forbort – Pionk
Beaulieu – Demelo		 Chiarot – Weber
Edmundson – Petry
Kulak – Romanov
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Forsberg, Harkins, Niku
Injured:
 Scratched: Mete
Injured: Anderson (lower body)
Goalies
Connor Hellebuyck Jake Allen
Record: 10-6-1
GAA: – 2.59
Sv%: – .915
SO: 0
Alternate: Laurent Brossoit		 Record: 4-2-2
GAA: – 2.12
Sv%: – .929
SO: 0
Alternate: Carey Price
 Game Expectations
The Habs have showed that they can win using the new systems of their interim head coach. Now they need to prove that against a tougher opponent in the Jets.

Bottom Line

The Jets have two wins in their two meetings with the Habs this season. The Canadiens would like to put an end to that tonight.
 Video Highlights

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