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Oilers @ Canadiens: Another Chance to Clinch | HABS PREVIEW

Sam Gerber

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 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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