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Montembeault to Start | PREVIEW: WPG @ MTL

Sam Gerber

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

The Habs were up to the task against their rivals but weren’t able to complete the comeback. The Habs were heavily outshot once again and had no answer early as the Leafs applied pressure. Down two goals early, the Habs battled back in the second but still found themselves down a goal going into the third. They struggled to generate  offence in the third with only seven shots on goal.

Last game: MTL 2  TOR 3  F

For a complete game recap: Comeback Falls Short | RECAP: MTL @ TOR

Players to Watch

  • Jeff Petry
    Petry made his return to the lineup and made an immediate impact stabilizing the right side of the defence. Petry has not rescinded his trade request and the next ten games will likely be his last as a member of the Habs.
  • Josh Anderson
    Anderson has only two goals in over a month but in his last game against the Jets he scored a hat-trick and was a difference maker. Anderson has been wildly inconsistent and must do more to remain as a top six contributor.
  • Christian Dvorak
    Dvorak is settling in with eight points in his last nine games. With ten games to go the Habs need to identify if they want Dvorak as a middle six centre next season or if he will be moved in the off-season.

Keys to Victory

  • Play with energy
    The Habs came out flat against the Leafs. The Jets will be on the second night of a back-to-back and will likely run out of energy as the game goes on. The Habs need to not only come out strong but continue a high energy game for a full 60 minutes.
  • Generate shots
    The Habs were on the losing end of the shot margin against Toronto and it is past the point of a concern. The Habs have to be much better at controlling the play in their own end and not put to much pressure on their goaltenders.
  • Finish chances
    The Habs had multiple point-blank chances last game that they weren’t able to capitalize. It was the difference in the game. With the lack of shots the Habs need to be able to finish at a high percentage and can’t waste prime opportunities.
Statistical Matchup for Game 73
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | April 11, 7:00 PM ET | TV: SN, RDS, NHLN, ESPN+

2021-22  statistics
JETS CANADIENS
79 (19th) Points (rank) 51 (31st)
34-28-11 Record 20-41-11
W1 Streak L1
5-4-1 Last 10 3-5-2
3.07 (16th) GF/G (rank) 2.60 (29th)
3.10 (19th) GA/G (rank) 3.79 (31st)
21.7 (14th) PP% (rank) 13.4 (31st)
74.5 (29th) PK%  (rank) 74.7 (28th)
51.0  Faceoff % 48.4
Pre-game Quotes
Martin St. Louis on Carey Price
  • “Carey (Price) has been in the NHL for a long time. I trust him. When he will tell me, “I am ready,” I’ll say ok, he’s going to play.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Sanford – Stastny – Ehlers
Connor – Dubois – Svechnikov
Barron – Lowry – Appleton
Eyssimont – Toninato – Brooks		 Caufield – Suzuki – R. Pitlick
Hoffman – Evans – Anderson
Armia – Dvorak – Gallagher
Byron – Poehling – Ylonen
Defensemen
Morrissey – DeMelo
Schmidt – Pionk
Samberg – Dillon		  Romanov – Savard
Edmundson – Petry
Harris – Schueneman
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Harkins
Injured: Perfetti, Wheeler, Stanley, Scheifele		 Scratched: Lagesson, Clague, Perreault, Pezzetta, Dauphin, Wideman, T. Pitlick
Injured: Allen (lower-body), Barron (lower-body), Drouin (upper-body), Price (knee), Weber (multiple injuries)
Goalies
Eric Comrie Sam Montembeault
Record: 8-3-1
GAA: 2.68
Sv%: .912
SO: 0
Alternate: Connor Hellebuyck		 Record: 7-14-6
GAA: 3.61
Sv%: .896
SO: 1
Alternate: Cayden Primeau
 Game Expectations
The Jets have little chance at the playoffs and would likely need some help. But don’t count them out. It isn’t over until it’s over and they won’t throw in the towel until they are completely out of the race. The Habs have continued to battle in every game but again are heavily outshot, this should be a game where the Habs throw everything on net and hope a large quantity of chances will lead to a victory.

Bottom Line

Ten games left and two points out of last place the Habs will go down to the wire to see if they end with the highest odds of winning the draft lottery. It will be interesting to see if the Habs play to win in the final ten games.
 Video Highlights

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