Weekly Forecast: Canadiens Face Metro Foes Rangers, Devils
Ty Prater
All Habs Weekly Forecast gives a first look of the week ahead for your Montreal Canadiens. Staff writer Ty Prater maps out the schedule, provides a statistical comparison of each matchup, identifies players to watch, as well as strengths and weaknesses of each team and provides links to our game reports for the season series. Bookmark this page and use it as your guide for each game in the Canadiens schedule this week. The Weekly Forecast combined with our popular Game Day feature provides you with the best information available as you prepare for puck drop.
MONTREAL, QC. — This week the Canadiens play three games, facing the New York Rangers before another home-and-home series, this time against New Jersey. Last week the Habs went 3-1-0, beating the Islanders in both games of their home-and-home series for their sixth consecutive win against the Isles.
Calendar: November 23 – November 29
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN
AWAY
AWAY
HOME
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Montreal Canadiens
The Habs (16-4-2) are coming off a 4-2 win against the Islanders last Sunday and start their week Wednesday against the Rangers in New York. The Canadiens continue to lead the Atlantic Division and they are tied for first in the league with Dallas with 34 points. They are 6-2-2 in their last ten games played.
Players to Watch
Tomas Fleishmann. Fleishmann has two goals in his last two games and 15 points so far this season. The 31-year-old winger also has three game winning goals this season (5th).
Max Pacioretty. Pacioretty has five points in his last five games, tallying his 300th career point last week. The captain has 11 goals so far this season (5th).
Strengths (+)
Weaknesses (-)
The Habs offence has seen a complete turn around from last season’s season average of 2.61 goals per game (20th), to this season’s average of 3.55 goals per game (1st). The Habs have also increased their shot attempts to 31.5 per game (3rd), while allowing only 28.6 shots against.
The Canadiens have dropped to 17th in the league for faceoffs with a win percentage of 50.1.
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Wednesday
New York Rangers
The Rangers (15-3-2) are coming off a 5-4 win against Florida last Saturday and start their week Monday against Nashville before hosting Montreal Wednesday. New York is first in the Metropolitan Division and third in the league with 32 points. They are 9-1-0 in their last ten games played.
Players to Watch
Mats Zuccarello. Zuccarello has nine points in his last five games and 21 points so far this season (10th).
Rick Nash. Nash had a hat trick in his last game as well as 13 points this season.
Strengths (+)
Weaknesses (-)
Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers’ defence have made scoring a rarity with an average goals against of just 1.85 (1st).
The Rangers’ offence struggles to get quality scoring chances, averaging only 28.3 shots per game (25th), while allowing 31.8 shots against.
The Devils (11-8-1) are coming off a 3-2 win against Vancouver last Sunday and start their week Wednesday against Columbus before playing Montreal Friday and Saturday. New Jersey is fourth in the Metropolitan Division and 14th in the league with 23 points. They are 6-4-0 in their last ten games played.
Players to Watch
Mike Cammalleri. The former Canadien has seven points in his last four games and 21 points so far this season (10th).
Lee Stempniak. Stempniak has four points in his last four games and 16 points this season.
Strengths (+)
Weaknesses (-)
The Devils play well on special teams with a power play at 22.5 per cent (4th) and a penalty kill at 83.8 per cent.
New Jersey struggles to score, averaging just 2.40 goals per game while only taking an average of 25.3 shots per game (30th).
Matchup
Friday November 27 | Newark, NJ.
CANADIENS
(statistics as of November 22, 2015)
DEVILS
34 (2nd)
Points
23 (14th)
7-2-1 (away)
Home/Away Record
5-4-1 (home)
3.55 (1st)
Goals per game
2.40 (22nd)
2.23 (3rd)
Goals Against per game
2.45 (9th)
31.5 (3rd)
Shots per game
25.3 (30th)
28.6 (9th)
Shots Against per game
28.1 (6th)
24.4% (3rd)
Power-play
22.5% (4th)
86.8% (2nd)
Penalty-kill
83.8% (9th)
Season Series
January 6, 2016 | MTL NJD |
November 28, 2015 | MTL NJD |
November 27, 2015 | MTL NJD |
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Saturday
New Jersey Devils
The Devils (11-8-1) are coming off a 3-2 win against Vancouver last Sunday and start their week Wednesday against Columbus before playing Montreal Friday and Saturday. New Jersey is fourth in the Metropolitan Division and 14th in the league with 23 points. They are 6-4-0 in their last ten games played.
Players to Watch
Mike Cammalleri. The former Canadien has seven points in his last four games and 21 points so far this season (10th).
Lee Stempniak. Stempniak has four points in his last four games and 16 points this season.
Strengths (+)
Weaknesses (-)
The Devils play well on special teams with a power play at 22.5 per cent (4th) and a penalty kill at 83.8 per cent.
New Jersey struggles to score, averaging just 2.40 goals per game while only taking an average of 25.3 shots per game (30th).
