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

Game Preview

A Look Back

The Habs finally started a game with a lead thanks to Brett Kulak and Nick Suzuki. Unfortunately they took their foot off the gas and Jake Allen was caught sleeping. Allen let the Leafs back in the game. It was bad goal to give up as the Habs were in full control and it changed the whole game.

Last game: MTL 2 TOR 3

For a complete game recap: Canadiens @ Maple Leafs: Another Disappointing Loss

Players to Watch

Jake Allen
Many can’t wait for Carey Price to come back as Allen has really struggled with the increased work load. The goal given up to allow the Leafs back in the game was inexcusable and he knows it. Jake knows that he needs to better.
Nick Suzuki
The Habs best player for the past for weeks has been Suzuki. He is only two assists short of last season points total and has played 17 less games this year.
Tomas Tatar
In what could be Tatar’s last season with the Habs he has struggled. Averaging similar ice time as last season Tatar only has taken 79 shots this season, compared to 162 last year.

Keys to Victory

Contain McDavid
The injury to Danault may be exposed tonight as the Habs will have to contain Connor McDavid who just reached 100 points in 53 games. Someone will need to step up to have a chance but the Habs will need to shut him down by committee.
Be focused
A lack of focus for a single second can change the game and with the leagues top two point producers on the ice the Habs can’t afford to lose focus ever.
Win special teams
The power-play went zero for three and struggled to have any consistent pressure. Something needs to change before the playoffs.

Statistical Matchup
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC \| May 10, 7:00 PM ET \| TV: TSN2, ESPN+, RDS
	2020-21 statistics
OILERS	2020-21 statistics	CANADIENS
68 (12th)	Points (rank)	57 (18th)
33-18-2	Record	24-21-9
17-7-2	Away/Home	13-11-2
7-3-0	Last 10	4-6-0
3.28	GF/G	2.82
2.72	GA/G	2.91
27.5 (1st)	PP% (rank)	19.6 (18th)
81.9 (11th)	PK% (rank)	79.2 (17th)
48.98	CF%	54.43

Pre-game Quotes
Dominique Ducharme “We have a way to play, a style of game, a structure and an attitude with which to play. That’s what I expect from the guys tonight.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Kahun – McDavid – Puljujarvi Nugent-Hopkins – Draisaitl – Yamamoto Neal – McLeod – Chiasson Shore – Khaira – Archibald	Toffoli – Suzuki – Armia Tatar – Kotkaniemi – Anderson Perry – Staal – Caufield Lehkonen – Evans – Byron
Defensemen
Nurse – Barrie Lagesson – Larsson Jones – Bear	Kulak – Chiarot Edmundson – Petry Romanov – Merrill
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Stalock, Bouchard Injured: Haas, Koekkoek, Nygard, Kulikov, Kassian, Russell	Scratched: Gustafsson, Frolik, Belzile Injured: Gallagher (hand), Price (concussion), Drouin (undisclosed), Danault (concussion), Weber (upper-body)
Goalies
Mike Smith	Jake Allen

Record: 20-6-2 GAA: 2.28 Sv%: .924 SO: 3 Alternate: Mikko Koskinen	Record: 11-12-4 GAA: 2.63 Sv%: .908 SO: 0 Alternate: Cayden Primeau

Game Expectations

Only one point out of a possible four is needed for the Habs to secure a ticket to the playoff dance. While that sounds easy the Habs have struggled lately, lack consistency and have issues in all three positions. The injuries have piled up and the condensed schedule certainly hasn’t helped.

Bottom Line

That being said the Habs are playing an Oilers team that can’t change their position in the standings and could potentially rest some players tonight and the Habs have to take advantage.

Video Highlights

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1 COMMENT

little molly et ami May 11, 2021 At 12:14 pm

merci sam pour les notes
we’re in baby!
despite everything eh
2 years of covid,2 years of attrition,2 years of sneaking in the back door eh!
oh well,
we can do the critical analisis at a later time eh?
accept the gift.be gracious/appreciatif,and try to do it justice!
take a mediocre season and turn it around for the series/playoffs
everyone starts at zero.everyone has the will to do well.us included.
cheers,
guyCH10 soit present et proche en pensees et prieres

Comments are closed.