Perreault on Top Line | PREVIEW: MTL @ PIT

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

Game Preview (with contributions from Cole Jurzyniec)

A Look Back

The Blues scored just one minute into the game and continued to dominate for 60 minutes. Apart from Alexander Romanov’s wrister from the blueline, Charlie Lindgren shut the door against his former team for his third straight win.

Last game: MTL 1  STL 4  F

For a complete game recap: Lindgren Stands Tall | RECAP: MTL @ STL

Players to Watch

  • Ryan Poehling
    Poehling continues to be a force on the ice, utilizing his body and speed to create space.  If he remains on this trajectory furthering his development, it’s reasonable to assume that the 22-year-old may see top line minutes in the near future.
  • Alexander Romanov
    Leading the Canadiens physical play, Romanov is in the top-ten in the NHL with 88 hits this season. Romanov separates attackers from the puck and makes forwards  think twice about entering the Montreal zone on his side.
  • Nick Suzuki
    Suzuki has tallied just two goals, two assists in the past 14 games with a minus-8 rating. Suzuki will find himself with another new winger as the coach’s never-ending carousel continues in an attempt to spark his team.

Keys to Victory

  • Score early
    The Penguins have proved to be stingy, ranking third in the league in goals against per game this season. The Canadiens will have to score early to get the Pens off their game.
  • Protect the puck
    The Canadiens ranked fourth in the league in giveaways this season. The Penguins are 10th in the league in takeaways. Simple lesson for the Habs: protect the puck.
  • Clear the zone
    With considerable skill out of their lineup, the Penguins have moved to a system that is heavy on the forecheck. The Canadiens defencemen will have to clear the zone smartly to minimize being stuck in their own zone.
Statistical Matchup for Game 30
PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA | December 14, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS,  ESPN+, ATTSN-PT

2021-22  statistics
PENGUINS CANADIENS
33 (13th) Points (rank) 15 (31st)
14-8-5 Record 6-20-3
W4 Streak L3
7-2-1 Last 10 2-7-1
2.93 (15th) GF/G (rank) 2.14 (31st)
2.44 (3rd) GA/G (rank) 3.52 (28th)
14.9 (29th) PP% (rank) 13.1 (30th)
92.4 (1st) PK%  (rank) 70.5 (30th)
51.5  Faceoff % 48.6
Pre-game Quotes
Dominique Ducharme

  • “We aren’t generating a lot of offense right now. It takes more pucks directed at the net and more traffic there. That’s what we’re trying to create on all four lines.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Rodrigues – Crosby – Kapanen
Zucker – Carter – Heinen
Aston-Reece – Blueger – McGinn
O’Connor – Boyle – Simon		 Hoffman – Suzuki – Perreault
Drouin – Evans – Armia
Lehkonen – Poehling – Caufield
Pezzetta – Paquette – Ylonen / Dauphin
Defensemen
Dumoulin – Letang
Pettersson – Marino
Matheson – Ruhwedel		 Chiarot – Savard
Romanov – Petry / Schueneman
Kulak – Clague
Out of the lineup
Scratched:
Injured: Malkin, Guentzel, Rust		 Scratched: Schueneman
Injured: Wideman (personal), Dvorak (lower-body),  Toffoli (hand), Edmundson (back), Petry (upper-body), Anderson (upper-body), Price (knee), Byron (hip), Weber (multiple injuries)
COVID-19 protocol: Gallagher, Niku
Goalies
Tristan Jarry Jake Allen
tristan jarry
Record: 12-5-4
GAA: 1.92
Sv%: .934
SO: 3
Alternate: Casey DeSmith		 Record: 5-14-2
GAA: 3.01
Sv%: .906
SO: 2
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
The Penguins have won four straight games limiting the opposition to just four goals total during that time period. The Canadiens will be forced to work even harder driving to the net to create offence. At home, the Penguins are 5-3-0 in their last eight games against the Canadiens.

Bottom Line

It will be Star Wars Night at the PPG Paints Arena. The Canadiens will need the help of the Force to defeat the evil Empire.
 Video Highlights

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