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Looking for Third Straight Win | PREVIEW: MTL @ MIN

Sam Gerber

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

It was a back and forth game heading into the third period. Five players had multi-point nights for the Habs including Christian Dvorak who had his first NHL hat-trick which sealed the win for the Habs. This was a statement game for the Habs who scored seven goals for the first time this season against a struggling defensive team in the Blues.

Last game: MTL 7  STL 4  F

For a complete game recap: Goal Burst | RECAP: MTL @ STL

Players to Watch

  • Nick Suzuki
    Suzuki had a strong game against the Blues. The young captain deflected a shot in, and set up Caufield for both goals. Suzuki is now on a point per game pace.
  • Christian Dvorak
    Dvorak scored the first hat trick of his career.  They weren’t all pretty but Dvorak was making the right plays and was rewarded for it. This is the type of effort the Habs hope to get from him on a nightly basis.
  • Jordan Harris
    It will be interesting to see who is left out of the lineup when Joel Edmundson returns but Harris has made it clear that it shouldn’t be him. He had his first multi-point night in the NHL and his ability with the puck has made him a top-four defenceman for the Habs.

Keys to Victory

  • Start strong
    The Wild are a strong team that like to start fast. It will be key for the Habs to not only be composed in the first period but control the play forcing the Wild to make mistakes.
  • Limit turnovers
    If the Habs are able to force turnovers they need to capitalize on them like they did against the Blues. The Habs had a few turnovers against the Wild last week that they paid for and can’t afford again.
  • Win special teams
    The power-play was the difference maker for the Habs last game and got them the win. While the power-play isn’t expected to win them games every night it is expected to be dangerous and needs to continue.
Statistical Matchup for Game 10
Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN | November 1, 8:00 PM ET | TV: SN360, CITY, TVAS, ESPN+, BSN, BSWI

2022-23  statistics
WILD CANADIENS
9 (24th) Points (rank) 10 (17th)
4-4-1 Record 5-4-0
W1 Streak W2
4-4-1 Last 10 5-4-0
3.33 (11th) GF/G (rank) 3.00 (24th)
3.89 (28th) GA/G (rank) 3.00 (13th)
28.1 (4th) PP% (rank) 11.1 (27th)
76.7 (23rd) PK% (rank) 81.5 (9th)
47.7  Faceoff % 52.3
Pre-game Quotes
Marty St. Louis on Evgenii Dadonov not being at practice
  • “That’s what I was told. Listen boys, he wasn’t on the ice today. Chantal (Machabee) told you. Stop. You already asked about it.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Kaprizov – Gaudreau – Zuccarello
Boldy – Eriksson Ek – Hartman
Jost – Rossi – Duhaime
Steel – Dewar – Shaw		 Caufield – Suzuki – Dach
Anderson – Dvorak – Gallagher
Drouin – Monahan – Armia
Pitlick – Evans – Slafkovsky
Defensemen
Middleton – Spurgeon
Brodin – Addison
Merrill – Dumba		 Guhle – Savard
Harris – Kovacevic
Xhekaj – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched:
Injured: Greenway, Foligno		 Scratched: Dadonov, Pezzetta, Hoffman
Injured: Matheson (abdominal strain),  Edmundson (back), Heineman (finger), Byron (hip), Price (knee)
Goalies
Marc-Andre Fleury Jake Allen
Record: 4-1-1
GAA: 3.69
Sv%: .880
SO: 0
Alternate: Filip Gustavsson		 Record: 3-3-0
GAA: 2.85
Sv%: .909
SO: 0
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
The Habs have had a solid start to the season. They need to prove that they can be a competitive team this season. This will be a difficult road trip for the Habs as all of their next opponents are big strong teams who all have playoff expectations. The Habs need to take it one game at a time and get some revenge on the Wild who already beat them once this season.

Bottom Line

This a great test for the Habs who will need a full team effort in order to get the underdog win.
 Video Highlights

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