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Suzuki Looking to Reset | PREVIEW: MTL @ WSH

Cole Jurzyniec

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

Game Preview 

A Look Back

Aleksander Barkov set the tone early for the Panthers scoring 2:37 into the game. He  followed up by scoring two more in the first period to complete his hat-trick. It was a back and forth matchup up until the third period when the Panthers were let loose, scoring four unanswered goals to blow-out the Canadiens. Five out of the nine goals came on the power play. Arber Xhekaj netted one goal and assisted on the another.

Last game: MTL 2  FLA 7  F

For a complete game recap: Habs’ Leaders Disappoint | RECAP: MTL @ FLA

Players to Watch

  • Arber Xhekaj
    The Ontario native had a solid showing against the Cats. Xhekaj found mesh on the power play to notch his fifth goal of the season and also picked up his seventh assist. Xhekaj continues to improve as the season progresses and has been poised in the back-end. He’s developing into an option for the power play with a knack for getting his shots through to the net.
  • Nick Suzuki
    The top line has been virtually invisible as of recent. The captain is pointless in the last five games and has a minus-4 rating to boot. The team is relying on No. 14 to lead them and help create momentum. Suzuki will be looking to turn the tide and find some production.
  • Josh Anderson
    The 6-foot-3-inch winger has been linked to many trade rumors. It’s hard to say when or if management will move the power forward, but Anderson was able to pot a loose puck on Thursday night. This could provide some confidence and allow for an increase in production moving forward. The trade deadline is looming, just two months away.

Keys to Victory

  • Be disciplined!
    The Canadiens took an astonishing 41 penalty minutes which allowed for three Florida power play goals. The Habs share the lead for most penalty minutes (461) with the Panthers which is just one of many reasons for their downfall this season. Playing smart, heads up hockey will be necessary to shut down the Capitals as Alex Ovechkin continues to chase the goal record of “The Great One.”
  • Limit shots
    In their three previous matchups, the Canadiens have given up a total of 114 shots. Although Jake Allen and Sam Montembeault have been commendable in net, the team simply has to rally together to keep the puck out of the defensive zone and limit the opposition’s offensive pressure.
  • Conquer adversity
    The Habs have struggled immensely to find rhythm when down a goal or two. Creating a spark when the team is faced with offensive pressure will be necessary to taking down a hot home team in Washington who have posted a 11-5-2 record thus far at Capital One.
Statistical Matchup for Game 37
Capital One Arena, Washington, DC | December 31, 4:00 PM ET | TV: SN, TVAS, ESPN+, NBCSWA

2022-23  statistics
CAPITALS CANADIENS
45 (10th) Points (rank) 33 (26th)
20-13-5 Record 15-18-3
OT1 Streak L3
8-1-1 Last 10 2-7-1
3.11 (17th) GF/G (rank) 2.61 (28th)
2.74 (10th) GA/G (rank) 3.58 (27th)
21.0 (21st) PP% (rank) 14.9 (32nd)
81.8 (7th) PK% (rank) 75.4 (22nd)
48.8  Faceoff % 50.2
Pre-game Quotes
Nick Suzuki
  • “I always want to produce and help the team win. I can do it in different ways. I find that I don’t play as well defensively as well. When you’re not producing offensively, sometimes there’s a domino effect on your game in other aspects. I need to clean up.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Ovechkin – Strome – Sheary
Milano – Kuznetsov – Mantha
Johansson – Eller – Aube-Kubel
Protas – Dowd – Hathaway		 Caufield – Suzuki – Dach
Hoffman – Evans – Anderson
Slafkovsky – Dvorak – Gallagher
Pezzetta – Drouin – Armia
Defensemen
Gustafsson – Van Riemsdyk
Orlov – Jensen
Fehervary – Irwin		 Edmundson – Kovacevic
Harris – Barron
Xhekaj – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Snively, Alexeyev, Johansen
Injured: Backstrom, Hagelin, Wilson, Brown, Malenstyn, Oshie, Carlson		 Scratched: Richard, Dadonov
Injured: Byron (hip), Price (knee),   Savard (upper-body injury), Monahan (lower-body), Matheson (lower-body), Guhle (lower-body)
Goalies
Charlie Lindgren Jake Allen
Record: 10-4-2
GAA: 2.60
Sv%: .912
SO: 0
Alternate: Darcy Kuemper		 Record: 9-14-1
GAA: 3.29
Sv%: .900
SO: 0
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
Both teams are struggling with injuries this season. The Canadiens have an opportunity to take advantage as the Caps are arguably hurting more, missing plenty of key pieces in Tom Wilson, John Carlson, Nicklas Backstrom and T.J Oshie.

Bottom Line

Eventually something has to give for the team. With five rookies hungry to prove their worth, it’s only a matter of time before the team finds a win. Capital One Arena is going to be loud so the Canadiens will need to find production early and shut down Washington for the full 60 minutes of play.
 Video Highlights

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