Music City Clash | PREVIEW: MTL @ NSH

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

It was a miserable night for the Habs as defending was nowhere to be found and the Capitals never stopped scoring. This was a game to throw in the garbage and the Habs should take nothing from it. Jake Allen was left in net for all nine goals and the Habs goaltending tandem looks to be shaky at best lately. Hopefully an extra day off in between games will allow the Habs to get back on track.

Last game: MTL 2  WSH 9  F

For a complete game recap: Ovechkin, Lindgren Bury Habs | RECAP: MTL @ WSH

Players to Watch

  • Cole Caufield
    Caufield was the only bright spot for the Habs scoring both goals and is now two goals away from tying his career high. Caufield should easily beat this and with just over half the season left 40 goals should be on his radar.
  • Kirby Dach
    The consistency to be a top six forward in the NHL is one of the hardest things to do in the NHL and Dach has shown flashes of this but has dropped off of late. Hopefully a strong finish to the season will get Dach back on track who is three points away from reaching his career high point total.
  • Mike Hoffman
    The Hoffman contract for the Habs is quite a thorn in their side. Hoffman is a liability in the defensive end and hasn’t been able to produce offensively this season. With a high cap hit for one more year it will be difficult to move this contract that should never have been offered by the Habs.

Keys to Victory

  • Score first
    The Habs need to remember what it is like to play with a lead once again. An early goal to get the Habs back on track is exactly what they need tonight or it could be another long night.
  • Play as a team
    During a tough stretch it’s easy for players to try to do too much on their own and forget to play as a team. Playing as a team is how the Habs are going to win and they need to start doing that again.
  • Show some effort
    Back checking is not something that is optional at the NHL level. Last game multiple times the Caps had way too much time with the puck and it was due to a lack of effort by the Habs. After a blowout loss the Habs effort level must be a lot higher.
Statistical Matchup for Game 38
Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN | January 3, 8:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, BSSO

2022-23  statistics
PREDATORS CANADIENS
36 (23rd) Points (rank) 33 (27th)
15-14-6 Record 15-19-3
OT1 Streak L4
3-3-4 Last 10 2-7-1
2.63 (29th) GF/G (rank) 2.60 (30th)
3.03 (16th) GA/G (rank) 3.73 (28th)
16.8 (28th) PP% (rank) 15.5 (32nd)
78.3 (17th) PK% (rank) 74.6 (22nd)
52.8  Faceoff % 50.1
Pre-game Quotes
Marty St. Louis

  • “I want us to play with a little more rigor. We have to be accountable to each other. [..] We are too easy to face. We do not win enough battles. It seems like we don’t know the impact it can have.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Forsberg – Parssinen – Sissons
Trenin – Johansen – Duchene
Niederreiter – Glass – Granlund
Jankowski – Novak – Jeannot		 Caufield – Suzuki – Dach
Hoffman – Drouin – Anderson
Slafkovsky – Dvorak – Gallagher
Pezzetta – Evans – Richard
Defensemen
McDonagh – Josi
Ekholm – Carrier
Lauzon – Fabbro		 Edmundson – Barron
Harris – Savard
Xhekaj – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched:
Injured: Borowiecki, Smith		 Scratched: Dadonov, Armia, Kovacevic
Injured: Byron (hip), Price (knee), Monahan (lower-body), Matheson (lower-body), Guhle (lower-body)
Goalies
Juuse Saros Sam Montembeault
Record: 12-10-5
GAA: 2.75
Sv%: .916
SO: 0
Alternate: Kevin Lankinen		 Record: 6-4-2
GAA: 3.23
Sv%: .904
SO: 0
Alternate: Jake Allen
 Game Expectations
The painful road trip continues as the Habs have lost five straight and it won’t get much easier tonight. The Predators are not having a great season but with a strong push could find themselves in a wildcard spot. This is a game for the Preds that if they lose could look back and see this is where they lost their chances at the playoffs. For the Habs, they need something to cheer about, and currently the Habs have had the pleasure of having their moms on the road trip. I’m sure the Habs players will want to give them something to cheer about before they head back home.

Bottom Line

The Habs need a win and a win isn’t going to hurt the Habs in the standings too badly as it is highly unlikely they finish last this season.
 Video Highlights

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