GAME DAY PREVIEW | Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning: Preview, TV, Start Time, Statistical Match-up, Projected Lines, Starting Goalies, Keys to Victory, Habs Tickets, NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Series

A Look Back

Nothing has gone right for the Habs in this series and they see themselves down three games to none. It will be an enormous task to win four straight in order to win the Stanley Cup. It looked like nerves got the best of the Habs last game as the mistakes continued, putting them behind from the start. It was a hole they were never able to climb out of. The biggest culprit has been the turnovers time and time again. It’s mistakes not Carey Price who is to blame for the position the Habs find themselves in. He has done his best to keep them in games.

Last game: MTL 3  TBL 6 | Lightning lead series 3-0

For a complete game recap: Lightning @ Canadiens: Buried By Mistakes | HABS GAME 3 RECAP

Players to Watch

• Shea Weber
  This is the best chance at winning the Stanley Cup in Weber’s career. As captain he needs to lead his team on and off the ice. Weber has been very consistent in the playoffs despite being injured. He will have to find a way to spark his team tonight.
• Carey Price
  Habs have leaned on Price for years and he has done a phenomenal job keeping them in games they shouldn’t be in. Price has simply been victimized by his team’s play. A shutdown performance for the ages in an elimination game could just be what the team needs to turn this series around.
• Brendan Gallagher
  Gallagher has done what he can but it hasn’t been enough. This is a game where Gallagher can’t hold back. We know he’s beaten up but he is what gets this team going and he needs to be all over the ice doing anything he can to provide motivation.

Keys to Victory

• Limit turnovers
  Turnovers again cost the Habs for the third straight game. It happens, but these turnovers have been painful as many have been preventable. If the Habs can stop hurting themselves the game will stay within their reach.
• Score first
  The Lightning have gotten the first goal in every game and often it has come early. If this happens again the Habs will be in trouble making scoring first the most important thing they have to do.
• Play desperate hockey
  This should be the most desperate game of hockey the Habs play all season. Their backs are against the wall and they have nothing to lose at this point. Every inch of ice should be fought over and players cannot let the Lightning get away anything.

2020-21 Playoff statistics

• “We wanted to get the line of Byron, Evans and Lehkonen back together. We believe it’s a good line for tonight. We didn’t want to separate the duos of Danault and Gallagher, Suzuki and Caufield, and the Staal line. We’re using our depth. On defense, we wanted to add more dynamic skaters. That’s why Romanov and Kulak will play.”

Bottom Line