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Knights at the Bell Centre | PREVIEW: VGK @ MTL

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

The Habs played a loose game with action going back and forth against the Jets which had to be solved in overtime. The Habs first line was generating a majority of the offense for the Habs all night but in overtime they got caught against an experienced Jets team that made no mistake and put the game away. Sam Montembeault was strong in this game stopping 33 of 36 shots but wasn’t able to do enough.

Last game: MTL 2  MIN 3  F/OT

For a complete game recap: A Point in the Peg | RECAP: MTL @ WPG

Players to Watch

  • Mike Hoffman
    Hoffman finds his spot in the lineup for Rem Pitlick who struggled last game. Hoffman needs to use his shot as much as possible as he has one of the top releases in the league. Hoffman needs to show there is still more to his game and that he can be responsible defensively.
  • Brendan Gallagher
    Gallagher is finally healthy and continues to show that he won’t change his game style even with his past. The Habs need Gallagher to produce, yet three points in eleven games isn’t enough for a player who is the second highest paid forward on the team.
  • Jake Evans
    The Habs need more from their bottom six and it starts with Jake Evans. The fourth line center role simply because he hasn’t given the coaching staff a reason to give him more ice time. Evans finding his game would give the Habs by far one of the best fourth lines in the league and that’s what the Habs were hoping for when they had this type of depth at forward to start the season.

Keys to Victory

  • Play defensively responsibly
    The Habs played a very loose game against the Jets which will be victimized tremendously against the Golden Knights if that repeats. The Habs need to be tight checking as the Golden Knights are a very strong team and are off to a terrific start this season.
  • Spread the offence
    The Habs offense has been limited to the Habs first line and that’s not going to win many hockey games. All four lines have to generate chances and capitalize on high end chances for the Habs to win games regularly.
  • Win special teams
    The special teams continue to hurt the Habs and if they aren’t sharp tonight it will hurt them again. The Golden Knights have a top tier power-play and the Habs would be wise to stay out of the box.
Statistical Matchup for Game 12
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | November 5, 7:00 PM ET | TV: CITY, TVAS, ESPN+, ATTSN-RM

2022-23  statistics
GOLDEN KNIGHTS CANADIENS
20 (2nd) Points (rank) 11 (21st)
10-2-0 Record 5-5-1
W6 Streak OT1
8-2-0 Last 10 4-5-1
3.33 (12th) GF/G (rank) 2.73 (26th)
1.92 (10th) GA/G (rank) 3.09 (17th)
21.1 (17th) PP% (rank) 12.9 (29th)
78.6 (16th) PK% (rank) 80.6 (13th)
52.0  Faceoff % 52.7
Pre-game Quotes
Marty St. Louis 
  • “I’m impressed with [Jonathan Kovacevic], but it’s been part of a long season. Sometimes you have to watch a game from the press box.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Stephenson – Eichel – Stone
Smith – Karlsson – Marchessault
Amadio – Howden – Kessel
Carrier – Roy – Kolesar		 Caufield – Suzuki – Dach
Anderson – Dvorak – Gallagher
Drouin – Monahan – Hoffman
Slafkovsky – Evans – Armia
Defensemen
Martinez – Pietrangelo
McNabb – Theodore
Hague – Whitecloud		 Guhle – Savard
Edmundson – Harris
Xhekaj – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Cotter, Hutton, Leschyshyn
Injured: Weber, Lehner, Patrick, Brossoit		 Scratched: Pezzetta, Pitlick, Kovacevic
Injured: Dadonov (virus), Matheson (abdominal strain), Heineman (finger), Byron (hip), Price (knee)
Goalies
Adin Hill Jake Allen
Record: 4-0-0
GAA: 1.72
Sv%: .940
SO: 0
Alternate: Logan Thompson		 Record: 3-4-0
GAA: 2.88
Sv%: .908
SO: 0
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
The Habs get a huge test tonight when they play the Golden Knights who are tied for first in the league, and have a strong goal differential of plus-17 so far this season. This is going to be a hard game as the Golden Knights don’t give up a lot of goals and can score in bunches, not to mention they are very physical and play a traditional Western team style. Jake Allen will have to be on top of his game and might have to steal this one for the Habs to have a good chance at the win.

Bottom Line

As mentioned the Habs are going to need all four lines providing offense in order to beat a strong team like the Golden Knights, if that doesn’t happen the Habs could be in for a long night.
 Video Highlights

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