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Playoff Semifinal Rematch | PREVIEW: VGK @ MTL

Sam Gerber

GAME DAY PREVIEW | Montreal Canadiens vs Vegas Golden Knights: 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

After a win against Detroit, the Habs once again showed who they are against playoff caliber teams. The answer: not one. The Habs were outplayed, outworked and showed little to no fight once again. This is no longer a wake up call, the Habs are bad and something needs to be done. While a coaching change is highly unlikely it might just be what is needed as the players and coaching staff don’t seem to be working together. A positive note for the Habs is Carey Price will be rejoining the team on Monday, while he won’t play any time soon, Price joining that locker room could spark the team.

Last game: MTL 2  NYI 6  F

For a complete game recap: ‘Playing Catch-up Hockey’ | RECAP: NYI @ MTL

Players to Watch

  • Christian Dvorak
    When the trade was made for Dvorak there was a lot to be excited about: he was sold as a team guy, a player with size, good numbers on a poor team, and great in the faceoff circle. The list goes on. Unfortunately Dvorak has left everyone wanting more, could it be mismanagement by the coaching staff or just a lack of chemistry. Either way, the Habs need Dvorak to be better if they are to get out of the bottom of the league.
  • David Savard
    Savard was another key addition for the Habs this offseason that hasn’t panned out great. Savard is known as a shutdown defender who can be physical but has been exposed time and time again in the defensive end. At 31 years of age there is no reason to think his game has dropped off this much but with the change of the style to today’s NHL game, could Savard’s old school style not be the solution to the Habs defensive woes?
  • Tyler Toffoli
    Averaging half a point a game is a big step back from last season for Toffoli but there could be several factors affecting his game this season. This may not be the same Habs team as last year but Toffoli needs to find a way to be a scoring threat every night. When Toffoli is on his game he can be a game changer and confidence could be key to becoming that once again.

Keys to Victory

  • Play with speed
    The Habs have always been known as a fast team yet that hasn’t been the case this season. Montreal needs to force the play, push the pace and have teams on their heels not giving them any time causing turnovers.
  • Win the matchups
    The Habs are a better team on paper due to the injuries the Knights have and the Montreal has to take advantage of that. Vegas is missing several key players and have struggled to score this season, this is a game where depth players for the Habs should be able to take advantage of matchups.
  • Play 60 minutes
    The Habs effort level hasn’t been seen for an entire game this season. Often the Habs fight arrives when the game is out of reach or for a single period. It’s a recipe for disaster and the Habs know better. A complete game where the Habs are giving it their best each shift should be enough for a win.
Statistical Matchup for Game 13
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | November 6, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TVAS, CITY, SNE,  ESPN+, ATTSN-RM

2021-22  statistics
KNIGHTS CANADIENS
10 (23rd) Points (rank) 6 (30th)
5-5-0 Record 3-9-0
W1 Streak L1
5-5-0 Last 10 3-7-0
2.50 GF/G 2.00
3.10 GA/G 3.33
0.0 (32nd) PP% (rank) 12.5 (27th)
81.0 (18th) PK%  (rank) 68.9 (29th)
45.4  Faceoff % 45.2
Pre-game Quotes
Dominique Ducharme
  • “We want better results, for sure. It’s never fun to hear [booing], but that’s part of the game and we have fans that are passionate.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Marchessault – Roy – Smith
Carrier – Stephenson – Dadonov
Kolesar – Amadio – Janmark
Howden – Leschyshyn – Rondbjerg		 Toffoli – Suzuki – Gallagher
Hoffman – Evans – Anderson
Lehkonen – Dvorak – Armia
Pezzetta – Paquette – Belzile
Defensemen
Hague – Pietrangelo
Martinez – Theodore
McNabb – Coghlan		 Chiarot – Petry
Kulak – Savard
Romanov – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Hutton
Injured: Karlsson, Pacioretty, Stone, Whitecloud, Patrick, Eichel
 Scratched: Niku, Brooks
Injured: Drouin (upper body), Perreault (eye), Edmundson (lower-body), Price (player assistance program), Byron (hip), Weber (multiple injuries)
Goalies
Robin Lehner Jake Allen
Record: 4-5-0
GAA: 2.89
Sv%: .915
SO: 0
Alternate: Laurent Brossoit		 Record: 3-7-0
GAA: 2.92
Sv%: .904
SO: 2
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
The Habs are lucky not to be last in the league at this point as this disastrous start continues. Playing a depleted Golden Knights team could be exactly what they need. This is still the same team the Habs beat in the playoffs last season and that is something the Habs can use to motivate themselves. That said, the Golden Knights have a lot to look forward to and several players in the lineup will be trying to solidify their roster spot before players return from injury. This game could go either way and some bad blood from last season’s playoffs could carry over.

Bottom Line

This is a winnable game and the Habs need this to get back on track, a loss tonight should lead to the start of some changes with the Habs.
 Video Highlights

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