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Maintaining Focus | PREVIEW: VAN @ MTL

Sam Gerber

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

It is a new era in Montreal, as Habs owner Geoff Molson cleaned house and the Marc Bergevin, Trevor Timmins, Scott Mellanby and Paul Wilson reign is now over. A new bilingual GM will be named down the road but for now this team is in the hands of new VP of Hockey Operations, Jeff Gorton. The 53-year-old Gorton brought a championship to Boston and was in charge of the rebuild with the Rangers that are currently top ten in the league. It has been a wild 48 hours but the team still has a job to do. It will be interesting to see what changes are made in the near future with the active roster and coaching staff.

Last game: MTL 6  BUF 3  F

For a complete game recap: ‘Positive Vibes’ | RECAP: MTL @ PIT

Players to Watch

  • Nick Suzuki
    Bergevin left the roster with some holes and cap issues but also made an impactful  trade. Suzuki is a cornerstone for the Habs and will lead the new core. Building around Suzuki properly will be the key. For him personally, this opportunity will define his career.
  • Cole Caufield
    His rookie season hasn’t gone the way he had hoped but with the changes made, Caufield’s development may be handled differently. Many high end prospects have been mismanaged by the Habs over the years but with the new era in place there is hope that Caufield will be given the support needed.
  • Jeff Petry
    A fresh start is exactly what Petry needs, and this is his chance. Petry has battled all season but now he can take a step back and relax. The changes in management have made it clear this season is a loss which should allow for Petry to focus on his own game and level of play.

Keys to Victory

  • Maintain focus
    With the distractions around the team, the biggest key will be for the players to be focused. It’s not going to be easy as many players could find themselves on the trade block but in the end they are professionals and are paid to play hockey at the highest  level.
  • Commit to defensive zone coverage
    It’s not easy getting a win while giving up over 50 shots, but a win is a win. The Habs need to do a much better job in their zone preventing shots on net.
  • Keep it close
    A scoreless first period allowed the Habs to relax and find their game. Keeping it close early will be key once again.
Statistical Matchup for Game 24
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | November 29, 7:30 PM ET | TV: SNE, SNO, SNP, RDS, ESPN+

2021-22  statistics
CANUCKS CANADIENS
14 (28th) Points (rank) 14 (29th)
6-14-2 Record 6-15-2
L4 Streak W1
1-8-1 Last 10 3-5-2
2.27 (29th) GF/G (rank) 2.35 (28th)
3.27 (27th) GA/G (rank) 3.61 (31st)
16.0 (23rd) PP% (rank) 12.9 (29th)
62.3 (32nd) PK%  (rank) 68.6 (29th)
52.0  Faceoff % 47.9
Pre-game Quotes
Geoff Molson
  • “Jeff Gorton’s contract is a long term one. I am very happy to have it. We are lucky to have him in the long term with the organization.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Pearson – Horvat – Garland
Hoglander – Miller – Boeser
Dowling – Pettersson – Podkolzin
Motte – Dickinson – Chiasson		 Drouin – Suzuki – Caufield
Toffoli – Dvorak – Anderson
Lehkonen – Evans – Gallagher
Pezzetta – Poehling – Armia
Defensemen
Ekman-Larsson – Myers
Hughes – Poolman
Burroughs – Schenn		 Chiarot – Petry
Romanov – Savard
Niku – Norlinder
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Hunt, Lammikko
Injured: Sutter, Highmore, Keeper		 Scratched: Paquette
Injured: Wideman (upper-body),  Edmundson (lower-body), Kulak (lower-body), Hoffman (upper-body), Perreault (eye), Price (knee), Byron (hip), Weber (multiple injuries)
Goalies
Thatcher Demko Jake Allen
Record: 6-10-1
GAA: 3.07
Sv%: .904
SO: 0
Alternate: Jaroslav Halak		 Record: 5-9-1
GAA: 3.02
Sv%: .902
SO: 2
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
The one thing that hasn’t changed is the coaching staff, at least for now. With the season essentially a write off, does it make sense to fire Dom Ducharme? Some interesting lineups will likely be seen as the Habs try to showcase some players to boost their trade value.

Bottom Line

This might be the wakeup call the Habs needed.  Bergevin was close with his players and it’s possible that many will be sad to see him gone. But they need to channel their emotions and find their motivation.
 Video Highlights

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