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Two In A Row? | PREVIEW: NYI @ MTL

Rick Stephens

GAME DAY PREVIEW | Montreal Canadiens vs New York Islanders: 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 Canadiens were able to successfully shut down the Red Wings for the full sixty minutes, who were playing without two of their top three scorers. It was the second win for the Habs over Detroit in 11 days. Nick Suzuki led the way with a goal, his first of the season, and two assists.

Last game: MTL 3  DET 0  F

For a complete game recap: A Positive Start | RECAP: DET @ MTL

Players to Watch

  • Josh Anderson
    Anderson was flying on Tuesday, seemingly fueled by the anger towards his team’s poor start. Anderson added six shots on goal to his team-leading 33 shot start to the season while adding his third goal. With Gallagher less than 100 percent, it’s important for Anderson to become the sparkplug of  the team.
  • Brett Kulak
    With injuries to the backend, Kulak has been thrust into a top-four role at times this season. As a puck-moving defenceman, Kulak can contribute to the offence and is currently tied for the team lead in points for Canadiens defencemen.
  • Michael Pezzetta
    While Pezzetta played less than nine minutes in his first career NHL game, he led the team with five hits. Pezzetta must continue to have short shifts, stay disciplined and bring energy to the fourth line to remain in the lineup.

Keys to Victory

  • Give their fans something to cheer about
    The Canadiens have been unable to win two games in a row so far this season. In fact they have only beaten the Red Wings and Sharks this season, two teams not expected to make the playoffs. Montreal has an opportunity at home to create momentum with a win over a very good Islanders team.
  • Stay disciplined
    The Islanders are the league’s most physical team, averaging almost 33 hits per 60 minutes, tops in the NHL. The Canadiens must ensure that they don’t try to retaliate to be roughed up with stick work that will land them in the penalty box.
  • Balance the icetime
    During the Stanley Cup playoffs, it was clear that the Canadiens were essentially playing with four defenceman. Needing a win on Tuesday night, they went back to that formula with the top-four defenceman all over twenty minutes. It’s a long season and the team may be better served by sharing the load this early in the year.
Statistical Matchup for Game 12
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | November 4, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, MSG+

2021-22  statistics
ISLANDERS CANADIENS
8 (23rd) Points (rank) 6 (30th)
3-2-2 Record 3-8-0
OT1 Streak W1
3-2-2 Last 10 3-7-0
2.43 GF/G 2.00
2.43 GA/G 3.09
20.0 (19th) PP% (rank) 10.8 (29th)
85.0 (12th) PK%  (rank) 66.7 (30th)
50.0  Faceoff % 44.3
Pre-game Quotes
Dominique Ducharme
  • “There’s no concussion, but still, [Jonathan Drouin] got a puck to the head and there’s a bruise there, so we want to be sure it’s not a concussion.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Lee – Barzal – Bailey
Beauvillier – Nelson – Palmieri
Parise – Pageau – Wahlstrom
Martin – Cizikas – Clutterbuck		 Toffoli – Suzuki – Gallagher
Hoffman – Dvorak – Anderson
Lehkonen – Evans – Armia
Pezzetta – Brooks – Belzile
Defensemen
Pelech – Mayfield
Chara – Pulock
Greene – Dobson		 Chiarot – Petry
Kulak – Savard
Romanov – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched:
Injured: none
 Scratched: Niku
Injured: Drouin (upper body), Norlinder (undisclosed), Perreault (eye), Edmundson (lower-body), Price (player assistance program), Byron (hip), Weber (multiple injuries)
Suspended: Paquette
Goalies
Ilya Sorokin Jake Allen
Record: 3-2-2
GAA: 2.26
Sv%: .931
SO: 2
Alternate: Semyon Varlamov		 Record: 3-6-0
GAA: 2.58
Sv%: .914
SO: 2
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
Facing off against a projected playoff team with weapons up front, the Canadiens will need to play tight gaps and shut down the Islanders offence. At the same time, Montreal must generate high-danger chances to challenge their solid goaltending.

Bottom Line

This game promises to be a physical affair with the Isles focused on limiting the Canadiens speed game. Montreal must use it’s transition game to create scoring chances off the rush.
 Video Highlights

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