Previews

Hockeynews Senators @ Canadiens Match PREVIEW

hockeynews April 7, 2021 No Comments

 

Game Preview

A Look Back

It was a great road win that saw the Habs play great defence and efficient offence. The Habs peppered the Senators with 38 shots while only giving up 22. Jake Allen wasn’t tested but came just two minutes away from a shutout.

Last game: MTL 4  OTT  1  F

For a complete game recap: Canadiens @ Senators: Perfect Road Win

Players to Watch

  • Tyler Toffoli
    Toffoli is expected to be back in the lineup tonight. His 18 goals this season still leads the team and will bring a boost to the Habs offense.
  • Victor Mete
    Mete made a great pinch that easily could have gone the other way but it didn’t. He played with confidence that led to a Habs goal.
  • Phillip Danault
    Phillip scored his third of the season and his line showed the chemistry. It will be a big bonus if this line stays hot.

Keys to Victory

  • Get a quick start
    After a convincing win, the Senators are going to come out with something to prove. The Habs have to shut that down early and get a quick goal.
  • Use the speed
    Speed since the break has been the biggest thing for the Habs since coming back from the break. If they can keep that energy level up and continue to use their speed they should skate away with another win.
  • Be better on the power-play
    While the Habs did win they did go 0-3 on the powerplay. Habs can’t afford to let that continue as it has been a game saver several times this season.  
Statistical Matchup
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC | April 3, 7:00 PM ET | TV: CBC, SN, CITY, TVAS

2020-21 statistics
SENATORS CANADIENS
28 (28th) Points (rank) 39 (14th)
12-21-4 Record 16-8-9
4-14-0 Away/Home 7-5-2
3-4-3 Last 10 5-2-3
2.51 GF/G 3.24
3.73 GA/G 2.58
14.3 (27th) PP% (rank) 22.0 (14th)
77.0 (21st) PK% (rank) 76.6 (23rd)
49.29  CF% 55.89
Pre-game Quotes
Dominique Ducharme

  • “I want it to benefit everyone. We want to build chemistry. At the same, we have a certain way of playing. Every player has their own qualities. We have a way of doing things and a way of playing that we’d like to stick to. It shouldn’t have a negative impact. We want to create some new chemistry.”
Projected Forwards, Defense and Goaltenders (subject to change)
Forwards
Tkachuk – Norris – Paul
Dzingel – Bishop – Brown
Stutzle – Tierney – Batherson
Formenton – Anisimov – Dadonov		 Perry – Suzuki – Anderson
Tatar – Danault – Gallagher
Drouin – Kotkaniemi – Toffoli
Byron – Evans – Lehkonen
Defensemen
Chabot – Zaitsev
Reilly – Zub
Brannstrom – Brown		 Edmundson – Weber
Kulak – Petry
Romanov – Mete
Out of the lineup
Scratched: Gudbranson, Coburn, Murray
Injured: Hogberg, Daccord, Watson, White
 Scratched: Ouellet, Frolik
Injured: Chiarot (hand), Armia (COVID protocol), Staal (COVID protocol)
Goalies
Anton Forsberg Carey Price
Record: 0-0-1
GAA: – 2.77
Sv%: – .927
SO: 0
Alternate: Filip Gustavsson		 Record: 11-5-5
GAA: – 2.59
Sv%: – .906
SO: 1
Alternate: Jake Allen
 Game Expectations
The Habs need to keep winning if they want to climb the standings at all. All three teams ahead of the Habs keep winning or earning the loser point making it hard for the Habs to gain any ground. Again this is a winnable game and the Habs have to find a way to get these two points.

Bottom Line

It’s worth noting the Habs are tied for the least amount of regulation losses this season but are second for extra time losses. Getting that extra point could be the difference in making the playoffs or not.

 

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