Weekly Forecast: Three-game Homestand for Canadiens
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 at home, facing Ottawa, the New York Islanders, and Boston. Last week the Habs went 2-2, as Mike Condon filled in for an injured Price and helped get Montreal back on the winning track.
Calendar: November 2 – November 8
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Montreal Canadiens
The Habs (11-2-0) are coming off a 5-1 win against Winnipeg last Sunday and start their week Tuesday at home against Ottawa. Montreal remains first in the Atlantic Division and first in the league with 22 points. They are 8-2-0 in their last ten games played.
Players to Watch
Andrei Markov. Markov has three assists in his last five games and 11 total assists this season (1st).
David Desharnais. Desharnais has five points in his last two games and 12 points this season.
Strengths (+)
Weaknesses (-)
Montreal’s defence and goaltending have been great so far this season, averaging just 1.85 goals against per game (3rd). Along with their strong defence, the Habs’ penalty kill has been tough to beat with a percentage of 88.9 per cent (4th).
The Habs have dropped down to 48.8 per cent in the faceoff circle (21st) and the gap between shots per game and shots against is quickly closing with 30.5 shots and 30.1 shots against per game, forcing Price and Condon to work extra hard to keep Montreal in each game.
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Tuesday
Ottawa Senators
The Senators (5-4-2) are coming off a 5-3 loss against Detroit last Saturday and start their week Tuesday against Montreal. Ottawa is fifth in the Atlantic Division and 19th in the league with 12 points. They are 4-4-2 in their last ten games played.
Players to Watch
Mark Stone. Stone has five points in his last four games and ten assists this season (7th).
Kyle Turris. Turris has four points in his last four games and seven goals this season (3rd).
Strengths (+)
Weaknesses (-)
Ottawa’s offence is tough to stop with an average of 3.0 goals per game (8th).
The Senators score often, but they also allow more goals than they score, with 3.09 goals against per game (25th).
The Islanders (6-3-3) are coming off a 2-1 loss against Buffalo last Sunday and start their week Tuesday against New Jersey before playing Montreal Thursday. New York is third in the Metropolitan Division and eighth in the league with 15 points. They are 6-2-2 in their last ten games played.
Players to Watch
Frans Nielsen. Nielsen has six points in his last five games and nine points this season.
John Tavares. The Islanders’ captain has two goals in his last five games and leads the team with 11 points so far this season.
Strengths (+)
Weaknesses (-)
New York’s special teams have been a big factor for them so far this season with a power play at 28.6 per cent (2nd) and a penalty kill at 92.3 per cent (1st).
While the Islanders average 3.0 goals a game and allow 2.42 goals against, they still give up more scoring chances than they get for themselves, only taking 29.8 shots while allowing opponents to take an average of 30.4 shots per game.
Matchup
Thursday November 5 | Montreal, QC.
CANADIENS
(statistics as of November 1, 2015)
ISLANDERS
22 (1st)
Points
15 (9th)
5-0-0 (home)
Home/Away Record
2-1-1 (away)
3.85 (3rd)
Goals per game
3.00 (7th)
1.85 (3rd)
Goals Against per game
2.42 (11th)
30.5 (9th)
Shots per game
29.8 (14th)
30.1 (17th)
Shots Against per game
30.4 (19th)
23.4% (6th)
Power-play
28.6% (2nd)
88.9% (4th)
Penalty-kill
92.1% (1st)
Season Series
November 22, 2015 | MTL NYI |
November 20, 2015 | MTL NYI |
November 5, 2015 | MTL NYI |
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Saturday
Boston Bruins
The Bruins (6-3-1) are coming off a 3-1 win against Tampa Bay last Saturday and start their week Tuesday against Dallas before playing Montreal Saturday. Boston is third in the Atlantic Division and 15th in the league with 13 points. They are 6-3-1 in their last ten games played.
Players to Watch
David Krejci. Krejci has seven goals this season (3rd) and a total of 15 points (3rd).
Jimmy Hayes. Hayes has four points in his last three games and six assists so far this season.
Strengths (+)
Weaknesses (-)
The Bruins have a powerful offence averaging 3.90 goals a game (1st) as well as a power play at 35.3 per cent (1st).
Boston’s penalty kill has struggled this season at 75.0 per cent (26th). Boston also has had trouble winning faceoffs with a win percentage of just 48.5 per cent (25th).
