Suzuki Bobblehead Night | PREVIEW: FLA @ MTL

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

It was another competitive game for the Habs as only a handful of games remain and the Habs continue to play hockey that is enjoyable for Habs fans to watch. While yes the games are meaningless the Habs are showing they are having fun and will continue to battle right to the final buzzer. Cayden Primeau stopped 24 of 26 shots and looked more comfortable in the net than in many of his previous NHL games.

Last game: MTL 2  PHI 3  F

For a complete game recap: Farrell Makes NHL Debut | RECAP: MTL @ PHI

Players to Watch

  • Raphael Harvey-Pinard
    Harvey-Pinard has become Gallagher 2.0 and it’s a suitable title as Harvey-Pinard looked up to Gallagher as a junior player and now gets to play right alongside him. Hopefully Harvey-Pinard can replicate a similar career as Gallagher but also stay healthy as he continues to get pushed around.
  • Brendan Gallagher
    Speaking of Gallagher, he has goals in three straight games and looks to finally be healthy. While the season is almost over, a healthy offseason for Gallagher to get his body back to pain free will do wonders for a player who the Habs missed but also may have lost his game and spot in Montreal this season.
  • Nick Suzuki
    It’s Captain Nick Suzuki bobblehead night at the Bell Centre and he’ll be wanting to put on a show and break his career high in points as he sits tied at 61 points.

Keys to Victory

  • Start quickly
    The Habs need to get off to an early start and catch a Panthers team off guard that played last night. An early start will do wonders for the Habs as the Panthers need almost every win to make the playoffs and the pressure will be on them quickly if they fall behind.
  • Skate hard
    Another way to take advantage of a team on a back to back is to skate.The Panthers played a heavy game last night and will want to make this a tight check game if the Habs can keep skating they should be able to control the game.
  • Win battles
    Teams design plays to take advantage of an opponent’s weakest guy on the ice which makes one-on-one battles one of the most important things each game. If the Habs can win their battles and play strong defensively they should have a good chance at getting the win.
Statistical Matchup for Game 76
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | March 30, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, BSFL

2022-23  statistics
PANTHERS CANADIENS
81 (19th) Points (rank) 66 (28th)
37-31-7 Record 30-39-6
W1 Streak L1
5-4-1 Last 10 4-6-0
3.44 (6th) GF/G (rank) 2.83 (26th)
3.43 (23rd) GA/G (rank) 3.65 (26th)
22.1 (11th) PP% (rank) 17.1 (28th)
74.4 (28th) PK% (rank) 73.4 (29th)
48.5  Faceoff % 48.8
Pre-game 
Jake Evans on playing with Sean Farrell

  • “I played a shift with [Sean Farrel] last game and he almost found me backdoor so I’m looking forward to it! I know he’s a skilled player, smart guy and hopefully Gally and I can compliment him.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Verhaeghe – Barkov – Duclair
Luostarinen – Lundell – Tkachuk
Lomberg – Staal – Reinhart
Smith – White – Cousins		 Harvey-Pinard – Suzuki – Hoffman
Gurianov – Drouin – Ylonen
Farrell – Evans – Gallagher
Pezzetta – Tierney – Belzile
Defensemen
Forsling – Ekblad
Staal – Montour
Mahura – Gudas		 Matheson – Savard (GTD)
Edmundson – Barron
Harris – Kovacevic
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Fitzgerald
Injured: Hornqvist, Bennett		 Scratched: Wideman, Pitlick
Injured: Byron (hip), Price (knee), Monahan (lower-body), Slafkovsky (lower-body), Caufield (shoulder), Xhekaj (upper-body), Armia (illness), Dvorak (lower-body), Guhle (lower-body), Anderson (lower-body), Dach (upper-body)
Goalies
Alex Lyon Sam Montembeault
Record: 4-3-1
GAA: 3.82
Sv%: .891
SO: 0
Alternate: Sergei Bobrovsky		 Record: 15-14-3
GAA: 3.28
Sv%: .905
SO: 0
Alternate: Jake Allen
 Game Expectations
This is a game Habs fans will want a big win. With seven games to go in the season and unfavorable schedule the Habs are likely to finish no better than 27th and no worse than 29th. The Panthers are 5-4-1 in their last 10 games and now there is a small chance they could finish 22nd or worse. Finishing 22nd is a key spot as that spot is the last team that can win the lottery and move all the way up to first for the Bedard sweepstakes, and by now everyone knows the Habs own the Panthers draft pick. While all of this is highly unlikely, two chances at number one are better than only once chance and the Habs should be motivated to beat a tired Panthers team that is desperately trying to make it into the playoffs.

Bottom Line

It’s never fun when there’s only a few games left in the season and the Bell Centre.  That’s why the Habs have to give their fans something to cheer for and look forward to next season.
 Video Highlights

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