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New Lines | PREVIEW: MTL @ NJD

Cole Jurzyniec

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

Both goalies were tested early receiving a total of 29 shots in the first period with no goals. Josh Anderson opened the second period 42 seconds in on a tip in from Michael Matheson. That was the only goal the Canadiens scored for the remainder of the game.  The Maple Leafs scored five unanswered goals giving newly-acquired Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari their first win with the club.

Last game: MTL 1  TOR 5  F

For a complete game recap: Outmatched | RECAP: MTL @ TOR

Players to Watch

  • Mike Matheson
    The Point-Claire native has been dealing with injury issues this season but when healthy, brings an offensive edge to the ice. The 28-year-old defender has one goal and four assists in the last six games and certainly helps bolster the back end with his elusive puck-moving abilities.
  • Raphael Harvey-Pinard
    The former 7th-round pick for the Canadiens has had the opportunity to shine and he continues to display his success. Rafael has contributed seven goals and two assists in 12 games and should continue to work hard to potentially find himself a spot on the roster.
  • Michael Pezzetta
    The 24-year-old winger has brought more edge to the team with his aggressive play having 136 hits, just behind Arber Xhekaj who is leading the team with 159. With Xhekaj out of the lineup, it’s important to have players who can contribute hits to make room for the skilled players to score points.

Keys to Victory

  • Play shut-down hockey
    The Devils have tapped into their offensive abilities this season and it shows in the stats. The team is currently sitting sixth in the league for goals scored and fourth for shots. The Canadiens will have to be wary of the oppositions offense and find a way to close gaps and shut down the neutral zone.
  • Match the pace
    The Maple Leafs ran over the Canadiens Saturday night. Montreal couldn’t generate chances and allowed Toronto to control the pace. The Devils are also a complete team of skilled players so the Habs will have to change the game plan going into New Jersey.
  • Put pucks on net
    The Canadiens have found great success from playing the rebound and picking up loose pucks in front. Defenders should continue to throw pucks on net and have players clog the front of the opposing goal to generate high danger opportunities.
Statistical Matchup for Game 57
Prudential Center, Newark, NJ | February 21, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, MSGSN

2022-23  statistics
DEVILS CANADIENS
79 (3rd) Points (rank) 50 (26th)
37-14-5 Record 23-29-4
W2 Streak L2
7-2-1 Last 10 4-5-1
3.46 (5th) GF/G (rank) 2.63 (29th)
2.63 (4th) GA/G (rank) 3.66 (29th)
20.9 (19th) PP% (rank) 16.9 (29th)
80.9 (13th) PK% (rank) 73.7 (28th)
51.3  Faceoff % 49.3
Pre-game 
Marty St. Louis 
  • “We have to finish the games, we have to finish the periods, we have to finish our presence. We are here, we are in the right position. But we don’t finish the job. We have to be more demanding on this side.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Tatar – Hischier – Mercer
Sharangovich – Hughes – Bratt
Palat – Haula – Zetterlund
Wood – McLeod – Boqvist		 Harvey-Pinard – Suzuki – Anderson
Pitlick – Dvorak – Dadonov
Hoffman – Drouin – Armia
Pezzetta – Belzile – Ylonen
Defensemen
Smith – Hamilton
Graves – Severson
Siegenthaler – Bahl		 Matheson – Savard
Harris – Kovacevic
Schueneman – Barron
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Bastian
Injured: Bernier, Marino, Blackwood		 Scratched:
Injured: Byron (hip), Price (knee), Monahan (lower-body), Guhle (lower-body), Gallagher (lower-body), Evans (lower-body), Slafkovsky (lower-body), Caufield (shoulder), Edmundson (upper-body), Xhekaj (upper-body), Dach (illness), Wideman (undisclosed)
Goalies
Vitek Vanecek Sam Montembeault
Record: 24-5-3
GAA: 2.30
Sv%: .917
SO: 2
Alternate: Akira Schmid		 Record: 11-11-2
GAA: 3.29
Sv%: .906
SO: 0
Alternate: Jake Allen
 Game Expectations
If the Habs display a similar effort as they did on Saturday, it’s going to be a long night.  The Devils are red hot this season with a team filled with exceptional talent and are currently 7-2-1 in their past 10 games. The Canadiens will have to match the effort on ice to find a win on the road.

Bottom Line

Kent Hughes and company have 11 days until the trade deadline. Hughes is known to wait until the very bitter end to make a splash but has been tasked with many decisions as players that were supposed to be involved are injured. The focus at the moment  should be on the young talent who are developing.
 Video Highlights

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