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

A Look Back

Joe Pavelski led his team to victory as he put up a hat-trick with an added assist to cap off his four-point night. Arber Xhekaj and Mike Hoffman each scored their first goals of the season.

Last game: MTL 2  DAL 5  F

For a complete game recap: First for Xhekaj | RECAP: DAL @ MTL

Players to Watch

• Nick Suzuki
  The captain keeps producing at an elevated rate, accumulating seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) through six games. If Suzuki keeps generating offense at this level, he could finish the season with a career high in points.
• Jake Evans
  Evans managed to find an assist versus the Stars. The Ontario native has been quiet to start the season but also anchors the bottom-six. He appears to have some more pep in his step as of recent and will be looking to contribute more moving forward.
• Sean Monahan
  Monahan has solidified himself in the lineup quite nicely and has been producing at a consistent level with four points. The 6-foot-2-inch centreman has also taken a total of 71 faceoffs in the first six games of the season and boasts a win rate of 57.7 percent.

Keys to Victory

• Press Fleury
  Minnesota has had some troubles in net. Marc-Andre Fleury and Filip Gustavsson each have a goal against average above 5.00. Montreal needs to continue taking well-placed shots and take advantage of the Wild’s goaltending hiccups.
• Protect the zone
  Minnesota tends to play fast-paced, offensively-driven hockey. The Habs need to contain the neutral zone and keep the puck out of their end. The Wild currently sit sixth in the league for goals. Montreal needs to find a way to shut down their top performers Mats Zuccarello and Kirill Kaprizov.
• Be disciplined
  The Wild have the second best power-play in the NHL. The Canadiens should avoid taking lazy penalties and try to stay a step ahead of the opposition. It will be a test for the young defenders as they’ll have to bring their A-game.

2022-23  statistics

• “I like to kind of really just take it step by step. I don’t have a plan to retire right at this moment. Right now, my goal is to just be pain-free from day to day.”

Bottom Line