Leaders Welcomed Back | PREVIEW: CBJ @ MTL

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Sam Gerber
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GAME DAY PREVIEW | Montreal Canadiens vs Columbus Blue Jackets: Preview, TV, Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Habs Tickets

Game Preview 

A Look Back

The Habs were easily handled by the Oilers, as the Habs were down early. It was a shame to see no one on the Habs defend their goalie after he was blindsided by Zack Kassian. It goes to show when things aren’t going your way, team chemistry struggles.

Last game: MTL 2  EDM 7 F

For a complete game recap: Another Rout | RECAP: EDM @ MTL

Players to Watch

  • Paul Byron
    Byron will make his long awaited debut after a serious hip injury that hindered him for years. The leadership that Byron provides will be a much needed boost for the locker room.
  • Jeff Petry
    Petry will also be asked to do a lot more as it has been an awful season for him. But the Habs can’t afford not to play him due to the injuries for the Habs.
  • Alexander Romanov
    Already logging lots of ice time, Romanov will be asked to play more due to the injury to David Savard.

Keys to Victory

  • Start well
    On a second night of a back to back it’s always key to have a good start and an early lead.
  • Show some fight
    The Habs need to be there for fellow players. It doesn’t matter the score the Habs have to show more fight and defend their teammates.
  • Win the power-play
    The Habs red hot power play can be an equalizer as they continue to have one of the leagues best power-plays of late.
Statistical Matchup for Game 44
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | January 30, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, BSOH

2021-22  statistics
BLUE JACKETS CANADIENS
39 (23rd) Points (rank) 23 (32nd)
19-21-1 Record 8-28-7
W1 Streak L3
4-6-0 Last 10 1-6-3
3.00 (15th) GF/G (rank) 2.21 (32nd)
3.59 (30th) GA/G (rank) 3.86 (32nd)
15.5 (28th) PP% (rank) 14.3 (31st)
79.8 (18th) PK%  (rank) 72.8 (30th)
49.3  Faceoff % 47.6
Pre-game Quotes
Tyler Toffoli

  • “Going down early like that again isn’t the way that we want to start a hockey game. We have to figure that out. If things like that happen we got to respond the right way.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Laine – Jenner – Nyquist
Voracek – Sillinger – Bjorkstrand
Robinson – Kuraly – Chinakhov
Domi – Roslovic – Bemstrom		 Lehkonen – Suzuki – Toffoli
Dauphin – Poehling – Hoffman
Pitlick – Evans – Anderson
Pezzetta – Byron – Gallagher
Defensemen
Werenski – Peeke
Gavrikov – Bayreuther
Bean – Boqvist		 Chiarot – Romanov
Kulak – Petry
Clague – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched:
Injured: Danforth, Texier
COVID-19:
Taxi squad:		 Scratched: Paquette
Injured: Savard (ankle), Dvorak (upper-body), Allen (lower-body), Drouin (upper-body), Perreault (lower-body), Edmundson (back), Price (knee), Weber (multiple injuries)
COVID-19: Caufield, Armia
Taxi squad: McNiven
Goalies
Elvis Merzlikins Sam Montembeault
Sam Montembeault
Record: 14-11-1
GAA: 3.18
Sv%: .911
SO: 2
Alternate: Joonas Korpisalo		 Record: 2-8-4
GAA: 3.95
Sv%: .895
SO: 0
Alternate: Cayden Primeau
 Game Expectations
The Blue Jackets are one of the few teams that the Habs could potentially catch. The Blue Jackets are an interesting team that are in the middle of a rebuild after going all in a few years ago. This is a winnable game for the Habs but it’s never easy on the second night of a back to back. 

Bottom Line

The Habs need this win. While it won’t have much impact on the standings, the Habs need to keep spirits high during a tough season.
 Video Highlights

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