by Tyler Prater, Guest Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine
LEXINGTON, KY — This upcoming week the Canadiens are on a four game road trip starting Monday in Colorado against the Avs and ending Saturday in Dallas. All four games will be against the Western Conference teams: Colorado, Minnesota, Chicago, and Dallas.
Montreal Canadiens
The Habs (16-7-2) go into the week on a three game losing streak, tying their longest for the season as well as having fallen to second place in the Atlantic Division (sixth overall in the league) after being swept by Buffalo over the weekend.
Players to watch:
Max Pacioretty. Pacioretty is on a hot streak, leading the team with 11 goals (7th in NHL.)
Lars Eller. Eller has 4 game winning goals to lead the team and is averaging 67.6 per cent on faceoffs in his last five games.
Strengths:
The Habs are dominating in faceoffs at 55.9 per cent (1st in the league) with two players in the top-5 for faceoff win percentage: Malhotra (1st) and Eller (4th). The Canadiens also boast an 84.1 per cent on the penalty-kill (10th.)
Weaknesses:
The Habs offense is a little cold with the goals/game average at 2.44 (22nd), leaving the Canadiens to rely on sound defence to win games. The Habs are also on a three game losing streak (0-2-1), really killing their momentum going into December.
Colorado Avalanche
The Avs (9-10-5) have won three of their last four games and are coming off a 5-2 win against Dallas last Saturday. They are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games played.
Players to watch:
Tyson Barrie. Barrie has seven points in his last seven games with 16 assists overall (10th.)
Matt Duchene. Duchene is tied for the team highest in goals with eight so far this year.
Strengths:
Colorado’s penalty-kill is at 87.4 per cent this season (3rd.)
Weaknesses:
The Avs have some injuries right now with John Mitchell out for 7-10 days with a leg injury as well as Marc-Andre Cliche (undisclosed injury) out two weeks. Colorado’s goals against average at 3.04 per game (24th) should be an opening for the Habs to exploit and gain back some confidence.
Matchup
Monday December 1 | Denver, CO.
Avalanche 5-5-2 (home) G/GP-2.5 GA/GP-3.04 PP%-13.4 PK%-87.4
Canadiens 7-4-1 (away) G/GP-2.4 GA/GP-2.4 PP%-13.2 PK%-84.1
Season series
October 18, 2014 MTL 3 COL 2 Recap – Avalanche vs Canadiens: Galchenyuk, Subban Dazzle, Price Shuts the Door
Minnesota Wild
The Wild (13-9-1) will be coming off a couple days rest after a 3-2 overtime loss to St. Louis last Saturday. They are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games played.
Players to watch:
Nino Niederreiter. With 11 goals this season, four on the powerplay (15th) and one short-handed goal (6th), Niederreiter has been an offensive power who has been tough to stop.
Zach Parise. Parise has 18 points this season with six in his last five games.
Strengths:
The Wild’s goals against average at 2.3 (6th) will make it tough on the Habs to score. They will have to capitalize on any scoring chances they get. The Wild also boasts an 88.7 per cent penalty-kill (2nd.)
Weaknesses:
Minnesota’s power-play is cold at 9.6 per cent (29th.)
Matchup
Wednesday December 3 | St. Paul, MN.
Wild 7-2-1 (home) G/GP-2.7 GA/GP-2.3 PP%-9.6 PK%-88.7
Canadiens 7-4-1 (away) G/GP-2.4 GA/GP-2.4 PP%-13.2 PK%-84.1
Season series
November 8, 2014 MTL 4 MIN 1 Recap – Wild vs Canadiens: Price Holds Early, Eller Provides Turning Point
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks (15-8-1) will play the Habs December 5th after playing St. Louis on December 3rd. Chicago is 8-2 in their last 10 games played.
Players to watch:
Patrick Kane. Kane has 23 points this season (14th) with seven points in his last five games played. Kane also has three game-winning goals (3rd).
Marian Hossa. Hossa has 14 assists on the year with six points in his last five games.
Strengths:
Chicago has a lot going for them right now. With an average of 2.96 goals/game (8th) and 2.00 goals against/game (2nd) the Blackhawks will prove to be a tough game for the Habs. Chicago also has the best penalty-kill in the NHL at 91.3 per cent.
Weaknesses:
Châteauguay native Corey Crawford isn’t often mentioned when listing the top goalies in the game. His glove hand seems to take a night off here and there but this season Crawford has posted strong numbers: 12-5-1 with a 1.87 goals against average and .929 save percentage.
Matchup
Friday December 5 | Chicago, IL.
Blackhawks 7-3-1 (home) G/GP-2.9 GA/GP-2 PP%-19.2 PK%-91.3
Canadiens 7-4-1 (away) G/GP-2.4 GA/GP-2.4 PP%-13.2 PK%-84.1
Season series
November 4, 2014 MTL 0 CHI 5 Recap – Blackhawks vs Canadiens: Price Solid Again, Habs Top Skaters AWOL
Dallas Stars
The Stars (9-10-5) will play Detroit December 4th, then Montreal December 6th. Dallas is 5-4-1 in their last 10 games played but has quite an offence that could be troublesome for the Habs.
Players to watch:
Tyler Seguin. Seguin has 18 goals (1st) with 31 points this season.
Jamie Benn. Benn has 15 assists (15th) with eight points in his last five games played.
Strengths:
The offensive power led by Seguin has given Dallas a 2.88 goals/game average (10th.)
Weaknesses:
While the Stars have a good offence, their defence is lacking with an average of 3.46 goals against (29th) and a 78.6 per cent penalty-kill (21st.)
Matchup
Saturday December 6 | Dallas, TX.
Dallas 4-5-5 (home) G/GP-2.8 GA/GP-3.4 PP%-14.5 PK%-78.6
Canadiens 7-4-1 (away) G/GP-2.4 GA/GP-2.4 PP%-13.2 PK%-84.1
Season series
December 6, 2014 MTL DAL