Site icon Habs Hockey Report

Win Two in a Row? | PREVIEW: MTL @ VGK

Sam Gerber

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

Game Preview

A Look Back

A new era has begun as Kent Hughes was named the new GM. Hughes knows the ins and outs of the NHL and has been one of the most successful player agents for the last several years. The Habs started his tenure off with a bang, delivering one of their highest scoring games of the season.

Last game: MTL 5  DAL 3  F

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

Players to Watch

  • Ben Chiarot
    With the new GM in place it will be interesting to see the return for Chariot as it is only a matter of time before he is traded.
  • Josh Anderson
    Finally healthy once again, Anderson will look to become a veteran presence for this team. He is a power forward who is currently tied for the lead in Habs scoring and will hope to build on that now that he is back.
  • Tyler Toffoli
    Another player who is also healthy once again is Toffoli. He has had a significant regression from last season but brought a spark to the lineup last game.

Keys to Victory

  • Create offence
    The offense was rolling last game and for the Habs to continue to win, finishing  chances will have to become commonplace.
  • Control neutral zone
    The Habs have lacked a transition game most of the season but it has been better the past few games. Winning the transition game will be big for the Habs to be successful tonight.
  • Win special teams
    A power-play and shorthanded goal were the difference makers last game, which shows just how important winning the special teams matchup can be.
Statistical Matchup for Game 39
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV | January 20, 10:00 PM ET | TV: TSN2, RDS, ESPN+, ATTSN-RM

2021-22  statistics
GOLDEN KNIGHTS CANADIENS
48 (11th) Points (rank) 21 (32nd)
23-15-2 Record 8-25-5
L1 Streak W1
4-4-2 Last 10 2-6-2
3.45 (6th) GF/G (rank) 2.16 (32nd)
3.03 (18th) GA/G (rank) 3.66 (32nd)
20.6 (13th) PP% (rank) 12.2 (32nd)
77.8 (24th) PK%  (rank) 74.6 (27th)
46.9  Faceoff % 47.4
Pre-game Quotes
Kent Hughes
  • “We need everybody pulling in the same direction.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Marchessault – Karlsson – Smith
Dadonov – Stephenson – Stone
Janmark – Roy – Kolesar
Carrier – Patrick – Amadio		 Toffoli – Suzuki – Evans
Drouin – Pitlick – Anderson
Dauphin – Dvorak – Hoffman
Pezzetta – Poehling – Lehkonen
Defensemen
McNabb – Pietrangelo
Theodore – Whitecloud
Hutton – Coghlan		 Chiarot – Savard
Clague – Petry
Romanov – Wideman
Out of the lineup
Scratched:
Injured: Pacioretty, Eichel, Martinez, Hague
COVID-19:
Taxi squad:		 Scratched: Niku, Paquette, Kulak
Injured: Allen (lower-body), Byron (hip), Gallagher (lower-body), Perreault (lower-body), Edmundson (back), Price (knee), Weber (multiple injuries)
COVID-19: Caufield, Armia
Taxi squad: McNiven, Vejdemo, Schueneman
Goalies
Robin Lehner Sam Montembeault
Record: 15-11-1
GAA: 2.95
Sv%: .904
SO: 0
Alternate: Laurent Brossoit		 Record: 2-6-3
GAA: 3.72
Sv%: .902
SO: 0
Alternate: Cayden Primeau
 Game Expectations
The Habs have a chance to go on a bit of a run this season as while the playoffs are realistically out of reach they can still play for pride. While many fans want the high draft pick, seeing a competitive team would be a nice treat. Vegas is currently first in their division but with teams right behind them they are going to do everything in their power to get the two points.

Bottom Line

This is a rematch of last season’s playoffs, and neither team has forgotten that series. Could tempers could blow over tonight?
 Video Highlights

Follow @AllHabs on Twitter

Exit mobile version