Wild at the Bell Centre | PREVIEW: MIN @ MTL

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

Game Preview 

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.
Statistical Matchup for Game 7
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | October 25, 7:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, BSN, BSWI

2022-23  statistics
WILD CANADIENS
3 (29th) Points (rank) 6 (22nd)
1-3-1 Record 3-3-0
OT1 Streak L1
1-3-1 Last 10 3-3-0
3.80 (6th) GF/G (rank) 2.67 (27th)
5.40 (32nd) GA/G (rank) 3.00 (15th)
36.4 (2nd) PP% (rank) 5.6 (31st)
75.0 (22nd) PK% (rank) 83.3 (12th)
48.1  Faceoff % 51.9
Pre-game Quotes
Carey Price

  • “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.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Kaprizov – Gaudreau – Zuccarello
Boldy – Rossi – Foligno
Duhaime – Eriksson Ek – Hartman
Jost – Steel – Dewar		 Caufield – Suzuki – Monahan
Dadonov – Dvorak – Gallagher
Drouin – Dach – Anderson
Pitlick – Evans – Hoffman
Defensemen
Brodin – Addison
Middleton – Spurgeon
Merrill – Dumba		 Guhle – Savard
Harris – Kovacevic
Xhekaj – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched:
Injured: Greenway		 Scratched: Pezzetta, Schueneman
Injured: Matheson (abdominal strain), Armia (upper-body), Edmundson (back), Heineman (finger), Byron (hip), Price (knee), Slafkovsky (wrist)
Goalies
Marc-Andre Fleury Jake Allen
Record: 1-1-1
GAA: 5.25
Sv%: .847
SO: 0
Alternate: Filip Gustavsson		 Record: 2-2-0
GAA: 2.77
Sv%: .913
SO: 0
Alternate: Sam Montembeault
 Game Expectations
Eyes will have to be glued to the screen as this matchup is bound to be filled with quick transitional hockey and is shaping up to be an offensively-focused bout.

Bottom Line

The Canadiens will be looking for a win after losing their first at home against the Stars Saturday evening. They’ll also be eager for this victory as they’ll be on the road for their next four.
 Video Highlights

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